Mechanotransduction

Cell biology

Biology

Endothelial stem cell

Myosin light-chain kinase

Endocrinology

Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src

Receptor

Endothelium

Extravasation

Mechanosensitive channels

Biochemistry

Phosphorylation

PIEZO1

Immunology

Transcellular

In vitro

Inflammation

Cell adhesion molecule

Chemistry

Leukocyte extravasation

Ion channel

Blood

The extravasation of leukocytes is a critical step during inflammation that requires the localized opening of the endothelial barrier. This process is initiated by the close interaction of leukocytes with various adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 on the surface of endothelial cells. Here we reveal that mechanical forces generated by leukocyte-induced clustering of ICAM-1 synergize with fluid shear stress exerted by the flowing blood to increase endothelial plasma membrane tension and to activate the mechanosensitive cation channel PIEZO1. This leads to increases in [Ca2+]i and activation of downstream signaling events including phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases sarcoma (SRC) and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), as well as of myosin light chain, resulting in opening of the endothelial barrier. Mice with endothelium-specific Piezo1 deficiency show decreased leukocyte extravasation in different inflammation models. Thus, leukocytes and the hemodynamic microenvironment synergize to mechanically activate endothelial PIEZO1 and subsequent downstream signaling to initiate leukocyte diapedesis.

Mechanosensation by endothelial PIEZO1 is required for leukocyte diapedesis