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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2026; 32(33): 121284
Published online Sep 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121284
Published online Sep 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121284
Piezo mechanosensitive channels: A biological hub for intestinal barrier homeostasis and an emerging target for disease intervention
Yu-You Bu, Xin Li, Tian-Yu Zhou, Jia-He Gu, Jia-Ning Zhu, Jia-Lu Li, Bin-Bin Zeng, Faculty of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China
Wei-Bing Zu, Department of General Surgery, Haimen People’s Hospital, Nantong 226100, Jiangsu Province, China
Dong Tang, Department of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Bu YY and Tang D conceived the study and wrote the initial draft; Bu YY and Li X contributed to editing and figure generation; Zhou TY, Gu JH, Zhu JN, Li JL, Zeng BB, and Zu WB participated in revising the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version.
AI contribution statement: AI tools (specifically ChatGPT) were used solely for linguistic refinement and formatting assistance. No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Dong Tang, MD, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China. 83392785@qq.com
Received: March 23, 2026
Revised: May 11, 2026
Accepted: June 22, 2026
Published online: September 7, 2026
Processing time: 142 Days and 11.2 Hours
Revised: May 11, 2026
Accepted: June 22, 2026
Published online: September 7, 2026
Processing time: 142 Days and 11.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Piezo mechanical sensitive channel is the core mechanical transduction hub for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, which can convert mechanical force into biological signals. They regulate a complex network encompassing epithelial renewal, barrier integrity, immune response and gastrointestinal dynamics. Piezo channel dysfunction can directly drive the development of inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer. Therefore, the pharmacological regulation of the Piezo channels by using specific drugs such as the agonist Yoda1 or the inhibitor grammostola spatulata mechanosensitive channel toxin 4 can provide a promising treatment strategy for the intestinal diseases.