Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke

Abstract Ischemic stroke (IS) leads to the disruption of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, resulting in brain edema. In this process, endothelial cells, as a crucial component of the BBB, are subjected to external pressure and tensile stress. Piezo1, a mechanically-sensitive ion channel, may be a...

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Main Authors: Huimin Fu, Yang Yu, Shangyuan Wang, Peixian Xu, Yuting Sun, Jiaqi Li, Xiaoli Ge, Shuming Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-025-05804-8
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author Huimin Fu
Yang Yu
Shangyuan Wang
Peixian Xu
Yuting Sun
Jiaqi Li
Xiaoli Ge
Shuming Pan
author_facet Huimin Fu
Yang Yu
Shangyuan Wang
Peixian Xu
Yuting Sun
Jiaqi Li
Xiaoli Ge
Shuming Pan
author_sort Huimin Fu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ischemic stroke (IS) leads to the disruption of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, resulting in brain edema. In this process, endothelial cells, as a crucial component of the BBB, are subjected to external pressure and tensile stress. Piezo1, a mechanically-sensitive ion channel, may be activated by sensing these stresses, further exacerbating the destruction of the BBB. Our findings indicated that after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, the expression of Piezo1 in endothelial cells increased. In endothelial-specific Piezo1 knockout (Piezo1 ECKO) mice, brain damage, neurological deficits, and BBB disruption caused by I/R injury were significantly alleviated. Moreover, oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in the cerebral cortex induced by I/R were also reduced. In vitro, by activating or knocking out Piezo1 in bEnd.3 cells under oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), we observed similar effects, further corroborating the in vivo findings. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, we found that the protective effect of Piezo1 deficiency on BBB integrity is mediated by the alleviation of p-CaMKII and the enhancement of Nrf2 nuclear translocation. This, in turn, leads to the upregulation of NQO-1 and HO-1 expression. In summary, our research indicates that Piezo1 exacerbates BBB disruption after cerebral I/R injury by promoting oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This process is closely linked to the activation of the Ca2+/CaMKII and Nrf2 pathways, suggesting that Piezo1 may be a potential therapeutic target for IS.
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spelling doaj-art-fb852be12ac840a2a2084d5d52a157052025-08-20T03:31:44ZengSpringerCellular and Molecular Life Sciences1420-90712025-06-0182111910.1007/s00018-025-05804-8Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic strokeHuimin Fu0Yang Yu1Shangyuan Wang2Peixian Xu3Yuting Sun4Jiaqi Li5Xiaoli Ge6Shuming Pan7Department of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Putuo, Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Putuo, Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineAbstract Ischemic stroke (IS) leads to the disruption of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, resulting in brain edema. In this process, endothelial cells, as a crucial component of the BBB, are subjected to external pressure and tensile stress. Piezo1, a mechanically-sensitive ion channel, may be activated by sensing these stresses, further exacerbating the destruction of the BBB. Our findings indicated that after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, the expression of Piezo1 in endothelial cells increased. In endothelial-specific Piezo1 knockout (Piezo1 ECKO) mice, brain damage, neurological deficits, and BBB disruption caused by I/R injury were significantly alleviated. Moreover, oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in the cerebral cortex induced by I/R were also reduced. In vitro, by activating or knocking out Piezo1 in bEnd.3 cells under oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), we observed similar effects, further corroborating the in vivo findings. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, we found that the protective effect of Piezo1 deficiency on BBB integrity is mediated by the alleviation of p-CaMKII and the enhancement of Nrf2 nuclear translocation. This, in turn, leads to the upregulation of NQO-1 and HO-1 expression. In summary, our research indicates that Piezo1 exacerbates BBB disruption after cerebral I/R injury by promoting oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This process is closely linked to the activation of the Ca2+/CaMKII and Nrf2 pathways, suggesting that Piezo1 may be a potential therapeutic target for IS.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-025-05804-8Endothelial dysfunctionOxidative stressNeuroinflammationMitochondrial dysfunction
spellingShingle Huimin Fu
Yang Yu
Shangyuan Wang
Peixian Xu
Yuting Sun
Jiaqi Li
Xiaoli Ge
Shuming Pan
Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Endothelial dysfunction
Oxidative stress
Neuroinflammation
Mitochondrial dysfunction
title Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
title_full Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
title_fullStr Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
title_full_unstemmed Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
title_short Piezo1 disrupts blood–brain barrier via CaMKII/Nrf2 in ischemic stroke
title_sort piezo1 disrupts blood brain barrier via camkii nrf2 in ischemic stroke
topic Endothelial dysfunction
Oxidative stress
Neuroinflammation
Mitochondrial dysfunction
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-025-05804-8
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AT peixianxu piezo1disruptsbloodbrainbarrierviacamkiinrf2inischemicstroke
AT yutingsun piezo1disruptsbloodbrainbarrierviacamkiinrf2inischemicstroke
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AT xiaolige piezo1disruptsbloodbrainbarrierviacamkiinrf2inischemicstroke
AT shumingpan piezo1disruptsbloodbrainbarrierviacamkiinrf2inischemicstroke