Selected Grantee Publications

Newly Identified Roles for PIEZO1 Mechanosensor in Controlling Normal Megakaryocyte Development and in Primary Myelofibrosis

Abbonante et al., American Journal of Hematology. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38165047/

Mechanisms through which mature megakaryocytes (Mks) and their progenitors sense the bone marrow extracellular matrix to promote lineage differentiation are only partially understood. The authors report that PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive cation channel, is expressed in mouse and human Mks, and activation of PIEZO1 increased the number of immature Mks in mice. Piezo1/2 knockout mice show an increase in Mk size and platelet count, both at basal state and upon marrow regeneration. Together, these data suggest that PIEZO1 places a brake on Mk maturation and platelet formation in physiology, and its upregulation might contribute to aggravating disease. Supported by ORIP (K01OD025290), NHGRI, NHLBI, and NCATS.