The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy
Piezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, plays a pivotal and multifaceted role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance by transducing extracellular mechanical stimuli—such as matrix stiffness and fluid shear stress—into intracellular calcium influx. In tumor cells, Piezo1 pro...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635388/full |
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| author | Peng Qu Peng Qu Hongyan Zhang Hongyan Zhang |
| author_facet | Peng Qu Peng Qu Hongyan Zhang Hongyan Zhang |
| author_sort | Peng Qu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Piezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, plays a pivotal and multifaceted role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance by transducing extracellular mechanical stimuli—such as matrix stiffness and fluid shear stress—into intracellular calcium influx. In tumor cells, Piezo1 promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by activating oncogenic signaling and contributes to an immunosuppressive TME through regulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. In the immune compartment, Piezo1 integrates mechanical cues with metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming to orchestrate the functions of T cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells. Notably, Piezo1 deficiency impairs TH9 cell differentiation, diminishes T cell cytotoxicity, and enhances the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, Piezo1 expression correlates with distinct tumor immune phenotypes, such as “cold tumors,” and with responses to immunotherapy, making it a promising predictive biomarker for treatment efficacy. Given its dual regulatory roles in tumor biology and immune modulation, targeting Piezo1—such as through combination with programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade—offers a potential strategy to reverse immunosuppression and enhance antitumor immunity. This review summarizes emerging insights into Piezo1’s role in cancer progression and immune regulation and highlights its translational potential as a novel target in cancer immunotherapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed40e9ae7c174174b39b24ea44a5b899 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed40e9ae7c174174b39b24ea44a5b8992025-08-20T02:46:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16353881635388The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapyPeng Qu0Peng Qu1Hongyan Zhang2Hongyan Zhang3Department of Anesthesiology, Chengdu Wenjiang District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, ChinaInstitute of Cardiovascular Diseases & Department of Cardiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Chengdu Wenjiang District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, ChinaInstitute of Cardiovascular Diseases & Department of Cardiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPiezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, plays a pivotal and multifaceted role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance by transducing extracellular mechanical stimuli—such as matrix stiffness and fluid shear stress—into intracellular calcium influx. In tumor cells, Piezo1 promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by activating oncogenic signaling and contributes to an immunosuppressive TME through regulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. In the immune compartment, Piezo1 integrates mechanical cues with metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming to orchestrate the functions of T cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells. Notably, Piezo1 deficiency impairs TH9 cell differentiation, diminishes T cell cytotoxicity, and enhances the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, Piezo1 expression correlates with distinct tumor immune phenotypes, such as “cold tumors,” and with responses to immunotherapy, making it a promising predictive biomarker for treatment efficacy. Given its dual regulatory roles in tumor biology and immune modulation, targeting Piezo1—such as through combination with programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade—offers a potential strategy to reverse immunosuppression and enhance antitumor immunity. This review summarizes emerging insights into Piezo1’s role in cancer progression and immune regulation and highlights its translational potential as a novel target in cancer immunotherapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635388/fullPiezo1mechanosensitive ion channelcancer immunotherapytumor microenvironmentimmune modulation |
| spellingShingle | Peng Qu Peng Qu Hongyan Zhang Hongyan Zhang The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy Frontiers in Immunology Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel cancer immunotherapy tumor microenvironment immune modulation |
| title | The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy |
| title_full | The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy |
| title_fullStr | The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy |
| title_short | The dual role of Piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells: a new target for cancer therapy |
| title_sort | dual role of piezo1 in tumor cells and immune cells a new target for cancer therapy |
| topic | Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel cancer immunotherapy tumor microenvironment immune modulation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1635388/full |
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