Piezo1 was recognized as a basic trigger for expansion of the skin based on the volume

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report new evidence that the Piezo1 protein controls skin growth by detecting when the skin is stretched and then coordinates the metabolic and immune changes needed for growth. Experts say that the findings could ultimately help doctors develop non -invasive therapeutic approaches to creating a new skin to treat burns and other injuries that require skin graft.

Scientists have long understood that excessive physical stress, defined as the inner and external intensity experienced by cells and structures within the body, causes the tearing of the skin, but moderate levels promote growth, such as body changes observed during child development and pregnancy.

The growth of the skin -based skin includes the skin (outer layer of skin) and the dermis (skin layer), but the way in which molecular is controlled remained unclear. On the contrary, researchers are aware that wound healing, another body process involving skin growth, is controlled by the signaling of the Horse and requires coordination between blood, fat, immune, nerves and skin cells.

Previous research has found that Piezo1, a so -called mechanical transport protein that converts natural strength into biological signals that can be activated, existed at high levels on the skin, indicating a possible role in skin development.

In a set of experiments funded by NIH published on July 25 at Nature communicationsThe JHM leadership team began to explore how it can feel and respond to Piezo1 first, identifying the molecular signals caused when the skin is stretched in mice and then examining how these signals can contribute to growth when handling.

According to Yingchao Xue, Ph.D., first author of the study and research collaborator at the Garza Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the team used a detailed method known as a spatial transcriptional transcription to compare the levels days after expression.

In extensive samples, the group found the gene signature scores and stress they created based on existing literature increased 2.1 times, 1.4 times and 1.4 times respectively. Increased scores plus increased immunocyte activity in all samples showed a systematic, coordinated response to increased skin tendency.

“The existing literature showed that the paths we found were closely associated with Piezo1 expression,” says Xue. One of the trails, the TGF-Beta signaling route, regulates the function of the immune system and the growth of cells.

Dipping deeper to explore the role of Piezo1, the team tried to reveal how the growth or decrease in Piezo1 activity will alter the growth of the skin based on the tension.

To do this, the researchers first faced a group of Piezo1, Yoda1 -acting mice. They observed that Yoda1 treatment increased the expression of inflammation and metabolism -related voltage in less time than originally observed in the expanded against non -exhausted mice, resulting in an increase in skin surface by 130%, 120% of skin weight gain and 130% increase in skin weight.

Because the increase in expression Piezo1 further enhanced expression of the road, we were able to show that it is a basic skin growth trigger. ”

Yingchao Xue, Ph.D., first author of the study and research collaborator at Garza Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University Medical School

The group then created a “knockout” mouse “knockout” in which the Piezo1 protein was selectively removed from the skin when undergoing Tamoxifen treatment. In knockout mice, on average by 0.9 times a decrease in skin surface, 0.84 times decrease in skin weight and 0.80 times a decrease in skin thickness compared to control, proving that the absence of Piezo1 negatively affects the body’s ability to adapt.

Together, Xue says, the findings are believed to be the first to prove that Piezo1 plays a key role in regulating the molecular changes required for the ability of the skin to develop in response to mechanical stress.

Researchers say the study could promote the search for safe and effective ways to develop the skin, which would help patients undergoing reconstruction surgery for burns, trauma or congenital defects. Current methods, such as silicone dilators, are time -consuming and can cause complications, including skin infections.

In the future, the research team plans to explore how their findings translate into people.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR074846, R56AR082660), the National Institute of Aging (P30AG021334).

Luis A. Garza, MD, Ph.D., has received grant support and payments from Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) as part of a licensing agreement with the team that are not related to the study. Other writers do not mention conflicts of interest.

Other researchers of Johns Hopkins involved in the study are Elizabeth Winnicki, Zhaoxu Zhang, Ins Lopez, Saifeng Wang, Charles Kirby, Sam Lee, Ang Li, Chawon Lee, Hana Minsky, Kaitlin Williams, Kevin Yueh-Hsun Yang, Sashank K. Reddy and Luis A. Garza.