Biological Roles of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of tissue stem cells that play an important role in development and tissue regeneration. As a result, MSCs are a valuable source of cells in regenerative medicine. It is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the cellular behaviors of MSCs to advance regenerative medicine. Several studies have shown that mechanical stresses, such as fluid shear stress, extracellular fluid viscosity, extracellular matrix stiffness, tensile force, and hydrostatic pressure influence the mechanotransduction functions of MSCs. Mechanotransduction refers to the conversion of mechanical stimuli into electrochemical intracellular signals, which play a role in cellular behaviors involved in cell proliferation and differentiation in MSCs. Mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels are crucial for mechanotransduction. Since the discovery of MS channel of small conductance (MscS) and MS channel of large conductance (MscL), several MS channels have been identified. This article focuses on MS channels such as transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC), TWIK-related K＋ channel-1 (TREK-1), and Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channels (PIEZOs), which are present in MSCs, and summarizes their functional roles in MSCs.