Breakthrough Discovery: Pressure Sensor Found in Fat Tissue

Breakthrough Discovery: Pressure Sensor Found in Fat Tissue

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• Scientists have recently made a groundbreaking discovery of a pressure sensor in fat tissue, revolutionizing our understanding of how mechanical forces influence biological processes. This finding, highlighted by Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian, raises new questions about the role of mechanical stimuli in fat and stem cell behaviour, with significant implications for future research.

PIEZO proteins:

• They are a family of large, mechanically activated ion channels that play a crucial role in converting mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals within cells.
• These proteins are highly conserved across various species, including animals and plants.
• PIEZO proteins are substantial transmembrane proteins, each comprising approximately 2,500 amino acids and containing numerous transmembrane regions.
• They assemble into homo trimeric complexes with a distinctive three-bladed, propeller-shaped architecture.
• PIEZO1: Encoded by the PIEZO1 gene, this protein is involved in various physiological processes, including the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure.
• PIEZO2: Encoded by the PIEZO2 gene, this protein is essential for the senses of touch, pain, and proprioception—the ability to sense body position and movement.
• Functions: PIEZO proteins are integral to mechanosensory transduction, allowing cells to respond to mechanical forces by opening ion channels that permit the flow of ions, thereby generating electrical signals.

About PIEZO Ion Channels:

• PIEZO ion channels are a class of mechanosensitive proteins that help organisms sense mechanical pressure.
• They were first discovered in 2010 by Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian and Bertrand Coste at the Scripps Research Institute, California.
• Mechanism of Action: PIEZO channels open in response to mechanical stimuli, allowing ions to flow through and generate electric signals. These signals enable neurons to communicate with each other, forming the basis of sensory perception.
• The two discovered channels, PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, derive their name from the Greek word piezi (pressure). Since their discovery, these channels have been linked to vital functions, including:
  • Sensing touch and pain.
  • Proprioception (body position awareness).
  • Interoception (internal body state perception).
  • Regulating respiration, urination, blood vessel formation, bone density, and wound healing.
• Pressure Sensor in Fat Tissue: A preprint study from Patapoutian’s lab highlights the role of PIEZO2 in sensing mechanical changes in adipose (fat) tissue, marking a significant advancement in understanding fat-brain communication.
• Research Methodology: Mice adipose tissues were injected with cholera toxin-B (CTB) linked to glowing molecules to isolate sensory neurons. These neurons contained high levels of PIEZO2, confirming its role in detecting pressure.
• PIEZO2 detects mechanical changes in adipose tissues, which are communicated to the brain via sensory afferents (neurons connected to the spinal cord’s dorsal root ganglia).
• PIEZO channels are essential for maintaining intestinal structure and homeostasis. Their dysfunction is linked to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cancer, offering new avenues for targeted therapies.