Mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel regulation of microglial cell function and implications to neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation

Microglial cells are the key immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and play a crucial role in CNS health and disease (Paolicelli et al., 2022). Under the homeostatic conditions, microglial cells assume diverse and dynamic states, depending upon interactions with neighboring cells and structures in local contextual settings, continuously patrol brain parenchyma utilizing their highly mobile fine processes, phagocytize protein aggregates, unwanted synapses and cells to maintain CNS health, and secrete neurotrophic factors to support neuronal function (Colonna and Butovsky, 2017; Paolicelli et al., 2022).