Fig. 11

Role of the Piezo1 channel in lung vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and alveolar type II epithelial cells (AEC-IIs). a Shear stress (mechanical ventilation: blue arrow) triggered Piezo1-mediated Ca²⁺ influx and thereby stabilized adherens junctions (AJs) of ECs through calpain. Piezo1 activation by hydrostatic pressure (P, red arrow) in lung ECs caused disruption of the AJs. b Alveoli exposed to cyclic stretch due to mechanical ventilation. Mechanical stretching of the alveoli induced Piezo1 channel activation of AEC-IIs, which resulted in the apoptosis of AEC-IIs via Ca²⁺ influx