PIEZO1

But PZO1 seem to be expressed within the smooth muscle cells.

As we know that the pre-labor contractions, which is much weaker compared to the contractions at labor, but those often occur several days before the time of labor, and those contractions, although weak, they are strong enough to activate PSO1, Therefore, PS1 is likely to be activated long before the initiation of labor, as a prolonged activation of PS1 allows calcium influx into the cells, which, as known from many other different systems, is often associated with long-term remodeling.

And therefore, we checked the gene expression within the within the uterus at a late pregnancy.

From the single-cell sequencing, we have noted the upregulation of several contractility-associated genes is impaired in the piece of knockout animals.

But what we do know is because the force sensing mechanism of piezo 1 is the primary mechanism is so-called the force from lipid.

That is, it is sensing the stretching from the lipid bilayer.

And we do see very well from initial studies that saturated fatty acid can change the membrane stiffness, and that directly affects the sensitivity of PS1.

Basically, when you have more saturated fatty acid in the lipid bilayer, then the PSO1 is much harder to open.