Back

Piezo1 transduces mechanical signals to inhibit osteoclast fusion and coordinate bone homeostasis

Wang, Y.; Wang, H.; Kan, T.; Cui, J.; Li, X.; Yuan, K.; Wang, L.; Yan, M.; Chu, L.; Li, H.; Yu, Z.

2026-06-06 cell biology
10.64898/2026.06.02.727841 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Osteoclasts originate from bone marrow-derived macrophages, and their maturation relies on fusion of pre-osteoclasts into mature osteoclasts that maintain bone homeostasis. Previous studies established that mechanical signals regulate osteoblast activity in bone homeostasis, although whether such signals regulate bone homeostasis by acting on osteoclasts remains unclear. Herein, membrane tension decreased during pre-osteoclast fusion, accompanied by reduced Piezo1. This suggests that mechanical stimulation inhibits fusion of monocytes into osteoclasts through Piezo1. Piezo1-knockout monocytes (CTSKCre; Piezo1fl/fl) attenuated the anabolic effect of exercise on bone mass in vivo, whereas shear stress inhibited osteoclast fusion in vitro. Piezo1 activation elevated E-cadherin, which anchors Merlin. This led to hyperactivation of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway, subsequently activating TAX1BP1 and suppressing NF-{kappa}B signaling as well as osteoclast differentiation and maturation. Thus, physical exercise activates a Piezo1-E-cadherin-Merlin-YAP axis that prevents osteoclast fusion, presenting a druggable mechanotransduction pathway for osteoporosis.

Matching journals

The top 4 journals account for 50% of the predicted probability mass.

1
eLife
5828 papers in training set
Top 3%
18.6%
2
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
35 papers in training set
Top 0.1%
12.7%
3
Nature Communications
5641 papers in training set
Top 18%
9.8%
4
Science Advances
1243 papers in training set
Top 1%
9.7%
50% of probability mass above
5
Cell Reports
1498 papers in training set
Top 10%
4.0%
6
JBMR Plus
18 papers in training set
Top 0.1%
4.0%
7
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2444 papers in training set
Top 16%
3.3%
8
Bone
25 papers in training set
Top 0.2%
2.6%
9
Journal of Cell Biology
392 papers in training set
Top 2%
2.4%
10
Journal of Biological Chemistry
690 papers in training set
Top 4%
2.4%
11
Scientific Reports
3612 papers in training set
Top 47%
2.1%
12
Communications Biology
993 papers in training set
Top 13%
1.7%
13
JCI Insight
277 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.7%
14
Science Translational Medicine
127 papers in training set
Top 2%
1.3%
15
The FASEB Journal
194 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.1%
16
Journal of Clinical Investigation
179 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.1%
17
PLOS ONE
5266 papers in training set
Top 55%
1.1%
18
Oncogene
85 papers in training set
Top 1%
1.1%
19
Journal of Cell Science
393 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.0%
20
Cell Communication and Signaling
51 papers in training set
Top 1%
1.0%
21
iScience
1154 papers in training set
Top 31%
1.0%
22
Cell Death & Disease
21 papers in training set
Top 0.4%
0.8%
23
Advanced Science
286 papers in training set
Top 9%
0.8%
24
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
233 papers in training set
Top 5%
0.8%
25
PLOS Genetics
862 papers in training set
Top 13%
0.6%