The benefits of exercise are well known, but the mechanisms at the molecular level that bring about these benefits remain a mystery. A study conducted at the University of Leeds has revealed the role of the Piezo1 protein in sensing increased blood flow after exercise. It has been assumed that the body has a sensor or sensors in place to indicate physical activity. Research has also suggested that the site of the sensor can be the endothelium, where blood flow and other hemodynamic parameters are sensed.
Endothelial cells form an interface between the blood and vascular walls. They respond to a range of mechanical forces arising from blood flow, injury, or other physical movements of the body. Piezo 1 is one such channel of the plasma membrane, permeable to both Ca2+ and Na+. It plays a pivotal role in detecting fluid flow during physical activity by forming mechanically activated…
