| Contrary to the findings of a study published 2 years ago, the ion channel Piezo1 does not react to microbial single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) in the gut, according to a new study by investigators from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and The Scripps Research Institute. The new study, which was funded by the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®, was published in the journal eLife. Research has shown that two ion channels, Piezo1 and Piezo2, play essential roles in the responses of cells to mechanical stimuli such as touch and pressure. Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, one of the co-authors of the paper summarized here, received a Nobel Prize in 2021 for his groundbreaking work in this field. Through its role as a mechanosensor, Piezo1 has important effects in the cardiovascular system, where it mediates the mechanical sensing of fluid flow and is involved in the development and function of blood vessels. It also has roles in the skeleton, where it regulates the formation and maintenance of bone and cartilage through mechanical load sensing. Its roles in other organ systems are still being studied. | 
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