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Review
. 2023 Sep 5;24(18):13710.
doi: 10.3390/ijms241813710.

Mechanosensitive Ion Channels: Their Physiological Importance and Potential Key Role in Cancer

Álvaro Otero-Sobrino  1   2 , Pablo Blanco-Carlón  1   2 , Miguel Ángel Navarro-Aguadero  1   2 , Miguel Gallardo  1   2 , Joaquín Martínez-López  1   2   3 , María Velasco-Estévez  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Mechanosensitive Ion Channels: Their Physiological Importance and Potential Key Role in Cancer

Álvaro Otero-Sobrino et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Mechanosensitive ion channels comprise a broad group of proteins that sense mechanical extracellular and intracellular changes, translating them into cation influx to adapt and respond to these physical cues. All cells in the organism are mechanosensitive, and these physical cues have proven to have an important role in regulating proliferation, cell fate and differentiation, migration and cellular stress, among other processes. Indeed, the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix in cancer change drastically due to high cell proliferation and modification of extracellular protein secretion, suggesting an important contribution to tumor cell regulation. In this review, we describe the physiological significance of mechanosensitive ion channels, emphasizing their role in cancer and immunity, and providing compelling proof of the importance of continuing to explore their potential as new therapeutic targets in cancer research.

Keywords: PIEZO; TRP; cancer; immunity; ion channels; mechanoreceptors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Top view structures of (A) hASIC1a [46], (B) hTRPV4 [47], (C) hTRAAK [48], and (D) mPiezo1 [41]. Structures obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB IDs 7CFS, 8T1B, 3UM7 and 5Z10), respectively.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic overview of the roles of Piezo and TRP channels in cancer and immunity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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