Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in the Nervous System
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 38
Special Issue Editor
Interests: synaptic transmission; neuronal plasticity; neuron–glia interactions; neuronal networks; purinergic mechanisms; mechanosensitive ion channels; neurotransmitter receptors in health and disease; receptor desensitization; receptor trafficking; modelling of receptor kinetics; mitochondria; reactive oxygen species; molecular and cellular mechanisms of pain and analgesia; migraine; neuroprotection
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Prompted by the discovery of highly mechanosensitive ion channels (MSICs), such as Piezo1 and Piezo2, mechanosensitivity is increasingly recognized as a fundamental property of brain cells, including neurons, glia and vessels. This view essentially reshaped our understanding of brain function, along with the role of various MSICs in sensing pulsatile blood flow, tissue stiffness, and movement.
Beyond the brain, MSICs are essential in the peripheral nervous system, where they contribute to pain, proprioception, and autonomic regulation. Piezo2 is a key player in touch and proprioception, while Piezo1, ASICs and TRP channels mediate mechanosensitive pain pathways, offering promising therapeutic targets for chronic pain. Additionally, mechanosensitive GPCRs are gaining attention for their roles in neuroimmune interactions and autonomic control.
A critical research focus is the balance between functionally opposite excitatory MSICs, which promotes calcium influx and depolarization, and inhibitory potassium K2P channels, which can reduce excitability via hyperpolarization. Identifying endogenous modulators and designing pharmacological agents for these channels could open new therapeutic avenues.
This collection will present cutting-edge research and reviews on the molecular mechanisms of MSICs in the brain, with an emphasis on their role in basic neurophysiology, as well as the contribution of MSICs to the pathophysiology of brain diseases.
Prof. Dr. Rashid Giniatullin
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- mechanosensitive ion channels
- Piezo1
- Piezo2
- mechanosensitive K2P channels
- mechanical pain
- pulsating blood flow
- tissue stiffness
- mechanobiology of glymphatic system
- chemical agonists of mechanosensitive channels
- mechanosensitive TRP channels
- neuron
- glial cells
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