Piezo2 expressed in proprioceptive neurons is essential for skeletal integrity

Eran Assaraf, Ronen Blecher, Lia Heinemann-Yerushalmi, Sharon Krief, Ron Carmel Vinestock, Inbal E. Biton, Vlad Brumfeld, Ron Rotkopf, Erez Avisar, Gabriel Agar and Elazar Zelzer ()
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Eran Assaraf: Weizmann Institute of Science
Ronen Blecher: Weizmann Institute of Science
Lia Heinemann-Yerushalmi: Weizmann Institute of Science
Sharon Krief: Weizmann Institute of Science
Ron Carmel Vinestock: Weizmann Institute of Science
Inbal E. Biton: Weizmann Institute of Science
Vlad Brumfeld: Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science
Ron Rotkopf: Bioinformatics Unit, Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science
Erez Avisar: Tel Aviv University
Gabriel Agar: Tel Aviv University
Elazar Zelzer: Weizmann Institute of Science

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract In humans, mutations in the PIEZO2 gene, which encodes for a mechanosensitive ion channel, were found to result in skeletal abnormalities including scoliosis and hip dysplasia. Here, we show in mice that loss of Piezo2 expression in the proprioceptive system recapitulates several human skeletal abnormalities. While loss of Piezo2 in chondrogenic or osteogenic lineages does not lead to human-like skeletal abnormalities, its loss in proprioceptive neurons leads to spine malalignment and hip dysplasia. To validate the non-autonomous role of proprioception in hip joint morphogenesis, we studied this process in mice mutant for proprioceptive system regulators Runx3 or Egr3. Loss of Runx3 in the peripheral nervous system, but not in skeletal lineages, leads to similar joint abnormalities, as does Egr3 loss of function. These findings expand the range of known regulatory roles of the proprioception system on the skeleton and provide a central component of the underlying molecular mechanism, namely Piezo2.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16971-6

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