PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development
Abstract PIEZO1, a mechanosensor in endothelial cells, plays a critical role in fetal vascular development during embryogenesis. However, its expression and function in placental trophoblasts remain unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that PIEZO1 is expressed in placental villus trophoblasts, where it...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62254-3 |
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| author | Yang Zhang Ke Z. Shan Pengfei Liang Augustus J. Lowry Liping Feng Huanghe Yang |
| author_facet | Yang Zhang Ke Z. Shan Pengfei Liang Augustus J. Lowry Liping Feng Huanghe Yang |
| author_sort | Yang Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract PIEZO1, a mechanosensor in endothelial cells, plays a critical role in fetal vascular development during embryogenesis. However, its expression and function in placental trophoblasts remain unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that PIEZO1 is expressed in placental villus trophoblasts, where it is essential for trophoblast fusion and placental development. Mice with trophoblast-specific PIEZO1 knockout exhibit embryonic lethality without obvious vascular defects. Instead, PIEZO1 deficiency disrupts the formation of the syncytiotrophoblast layer in the placenta. Mechanistically, PIEZO1-mediated calcium influx activates TMEM16F lipid scramblase, facilitating the externalization of phosphatidylserine, a key “fuse-me” signal for trophoblast fusion. These findings reveal PIEZO1 as a crucial mechanosensor in trophoblasts and highlight its essential role in regulating trophoblast fusion and placental development, expanding our understanding of PIEZO1’s functions beyond endothelial cells during pregnancy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d5eb39dead341e388dbec256bbdb4df |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d5eb39dead341e388dbec256bbdb4df2025-08-20T03:46:15ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-62254-3PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental developmentYang Zhang0Ke Z. Shan1Pengfei Liang2Augustus J. Lowry3Liping Feng4Huanghe Yang5Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineAbstract PIEZO1, a mechanosensor in endothelial cells, plays a critical role in fetal vascular development during embryogenesis. However, its expression and function in placental trophoblasts remain unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that PIEZO1 is expressed in placental villus trophoblasts, where it is essential for trophoblast fusion and placental development. Mice with trophoblast-specific PIEZO1 knockout exhibit embryonic lethality without obvious vascular defects. Instead, PIEZO1 deficiency disrupts the formation of the syncytiotrophoblast layer in the placenta. Mechanistically, PIEZO1-mediated calcium influx activates TMEM16F lipid scramblase, facilitating the externalization of phosphatidylserine, a key “fuse-me” signal for trophoblast fusion. These findings reveal PIEZO1 as a crucial mechanosensor in trophoblasts and highlight its essential role in regulating trophoblast fusion and placental development, expanding our understanding of PIEZO1’s functions beyond endothelial cells during pregnancy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62254-3 |
| spellingShingle | Yang Zhang Ke Z. Shan Pengfei Liang Augustus J. Lowry Liping Feng Huanghe Yang PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development Nature Communications |
| title | PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| title_full | PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| title_fullStr | PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| title_full_unstemmed | PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| title_short | PIEZO1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| title_sort | piezo1 drives trophoblast fusion and placental development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62254-3 |
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