美国斯克里普斯研究所Ardem Patapoutian等研究人员合作发现，躯体感觉神经元中的PIEZO2控制胃肠道转运。2023年8月3日，国际知名学术期刊《细胞》发表了这一成果。

研究人员发现缺乏PIEZO2的人类表现出肠道感觉和运动受损。小鼠背根神经节中的Piezo2是感知肠道内容物所需的，但节状神经节中的Piezo2却不是，这种活动会减慢食物在胃、小肠和结肠中的转运速度。事实上，Piezo2是检测体内结肠膨胀的直接必要条件。这项研究揭示了调节肠腔内容物在整个肠道内转运的机械感觉机制，这是确保适当消化、吸收营养和清除废物的关键过程。

据介绍，胃肠道处于不断运动的状态。这些运动受到食物存在的严格调节，并通过机械分解和推动肠道内容物来帮助消化。肠道中的机械感应被认为是调节肠道运动的关键；然而，神经元群的身份、所涉及的分子以及这种感觉的功能性后果尚不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: PIEZO2 in somatosensory neurons controls gastrointestinal transit

Author: M. Rocio Servin-Vences, Ruby M. Lam, Alize Koolen, Yu Wang, Dimah N. Saade, Meaghan Loud, Halil Kacmaz, Suzanne Frausto, Yunxiao Zhang, Arthur Beyder, Kara L. Marshall, Carsten G. Bnnemann, Alexander T. Chesler, Ardem Patapoutian

Issue&Volume: 2023/08/03

Abstract: The gastrointestinal tract is in a state of constant motion. These movements are tightly regulated by the presence of food and help digestion by mechanically breaking down and propelling gut content. Mechanical sensing in the gut is thought to be essential for regulating motility; however, the identity of the neuronal populations, the molecules involved, and the functional consequences of this sensation are unknown. Here, we show that humans lacking PIEZO2 exhibit impaired bowel sensation and motility. Piezo2 in mouse dorsal root, but not nodose ganglia is required to sense gut content, and this activity slows down food transit rates in the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Indeed, Piezo2 is directly required to detect colon distension in vivo. Our study unveils the mechanosensory mechanisms that regulate the transit of luminal contents throughout the gut, which is a critical process to ensure proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.006

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00739-0