Pannexins (PANX) were cloned based on their sequence homology to innexins (Inx), invertebrate gap junction proteins. Although there is no sequence homology between PANX and connexins (Cx), these proteins exhibit similar configurations. The PANX family has three members, PANX1, PANX2 and PANX3. Among them, PANX1 has been the most extensively studied. The PANX1 channels are activated by many factors, including high extracellular K+ ([K+]e), high intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), Src family kinase (SFK)-mediated phosphorylation, caspase cleavage and mechanical stimuli. However, the mechanisms mediating this mechanosensitivity of PANX1 remain unknown. Both force-from-lipids and force-from-filaments models are proposed to explain the gating mechanisms of PANX1 channel mechanosensitivity. Finally, both the physiological and pathological roles of mechanosensitive PANX1 are discussed.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Its pathogenesis is quite complex: Accumulated evidence suggests that biochemical signals as well as mechanical stimuli play important roles in MS. In both patients and animal models of MS, brain viscoelasticity is reduced during disease progression. Piezo mechanosensitive channels are recently discovered, and their three-dimensional structure has been solved. Both the membrane dome mechanism and the membrane footprint hypothesis have been proposed to explain their mechanosensitivity. While membrane-mediated forces alone appear to be sufficient to induce Piezo gating, tethers attached to the membrane or to the channel itself also seem to play a role. Current research indicates that Piezo1 channels play a key role in multiple aspects of MS pathogenesis. Activation of Piezo1 channels in axon negatively regulates CNS myelination. in addition, the inhibition of Piezo1 in CD4+ T cells and/or T regulatory cells (Treg) attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) symptoms. Although more work has to be done to clarify the roles of Piezo1 channels in MS, they might be a promising future drug target for MS treatment.
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