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PIEZO1 mediates mechanical reprogramming of neutrophils for proangiogenic specialization in the lung
Jin Wang, … , Bin Li, Jing Wang
Jin Wang, … , Bin Li, Jing Wang
Published June 2, 2025
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2025;135(11):e183796. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI183796.
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Research Article Immunology Pulmonology Vascular biology

PIEZO1 mediates mechanical reprogramming of neutrophils for proangiogenic specialization in the lung

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Abstract

Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells that constantly patrol or marginate inside vascular beds to support immune homeostasis. The extent to which neutrophils undergo reprogramming in response to the changes in vascular architecture and the resultant biological implications of such adaptations remain unclear. Here, we performed intravital imaging and transcriptional profiling to investigate neutrophil behavior across different tissues. Our findings revealed that neutrophils had significant deformability and spontaneous calcium signaling while navigating through the narrow pulmonary vessels. Pulmonary neutrophils exhibited unique transcriptional profiles and were specialized for proangiogenic functions. We found that the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) was essential for neutrophil reprogramming. Deletion of Piezo1 in neutrophils ablated the lung-specific proangiogenic transcriptional signature and impaired capillary angiogenesis in both physiological and pathological conditions. Collectively, these data show that mechanical adaptation of neutrophils within the pulmonary vasculature drives their reprogramming in the lungs and promotes pulmonary vascular homeostasis.

Authors

Jin Wang, Wenying Zhao, Wenjuan Bai, Dong Dong, Hui Wang, Xin Qi, Ajitha Thanabalasuriar, Youqiong Ye, Tian-le Xu, Hecheng Li, Paul Kubes, Bin Li, Jing Wang

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Figure 4

PIEZO1 activation reprograms neutrophils to acquire the lung signature.

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PIEZO1 activation reprograms neutrophils to acquire the lung signature.
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(A) Total transcripts of sorted BM, BM stimulated with Yoda1 for 2 hours (BM+Yoda1), lung, and PB neutrophils are presented in a PCA plot. n = 3. (B) BM-derived neutrophils were stimulated with Yoda1 for 2 hours. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined by qPCR. n = 4. (C) BM-derived neutrophils were stimulated with Yoda1 for the indicated durations. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined. n = 3–6. (D) Immunoblot analysis of phosphorylated ERK (pERK), pNF-κB, total ERK, and total NF-κB in BM-derived neutrophils treated with Yoda1 for indicated durations. Blots are representative of 3 independent experiments. (E) BM-derived neutrophils were pretreated with either trametinib (ERK inhibitor) or BAY 11-7082 (NF-κB inhibitor) for 30 minutes before stimulation with Yoda1 for 2 hours. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined. n = 5. (F) BM-derived neutrophils from WT and Piezo1-cKO mice were treated with Yoda1 for 2 hours. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined n = 4. (G) Schematic of experimental workflow. MACS, magnetic-activated cell sorting. (H) BM-derived neutrophils from the indicated mice were i.v. injected into CD45.1 recipient mice. Two hours later, the transferred neutrophils were sorted from the indicated tissue and subjected to qPCR analysis. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined. n = 4. (I) Schematic of experimental workflow. stim-media, stimulated media.(J) BM-derived neutrophils were pulse treated as indicated in I. Relative mRNA expression of the indicated genes in neutrophils was determined. n = 6. Data in B, C, E, F, H, and J indicate the mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple-comparison test (C and E), multiple Student’s t test (F), and unpaired, 2-tailed Student’s t test (B, H, and J).

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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