Mechanotransduction is a fundamental ability that allows living organisms to receive and respond to physical signals from both the external and internal environments. The mechanotransduction process requires a range of special proteins termed mechanotransducers to convert mechanical forces into biochemical signals in cells. The Piezo proteins are mechanically activated nonselective cation channels and the largest plasma membrane ion channels reported thus far. The regulation of two family members, Piezo1 and Piezo2, has been reported to have essential functions in mechanosensation and transduction in different organs and tissues. Recently, the predominant contributions of the Piezo family were reported to occur in the skeletal system, especially in bone development and mechano-stimulated bone homeostasis. Here we review current studies focused on the tissue-specific functions of Piezo1 and Piezo2 in various backgrounds with special highlights on their importance in regulating skeletal cell mechanotransduction. In this review, we emphasize the diverse functions of Piezo1 and Piezo2 and related signaling pathways in osteoblast lineage cells and chondrocytes. We also summarize our current understanding of Piezo channel structures and the key findings about PIEZO gene mutations in human diseases.

机械转导是一种基本能力，允许生物体接收和响应来自外部和内部环境的物理信号。机械转导过程需要一系列称为机械转导器的特殊蛋白质，将机械力转化为细胞中的生化信号。压电蛋白是机械激活的非选择性阳离子通道，也是迄今为止报道的最大的质膜离子通道。据报道，两个家族成员 Piezo1 和 Piezo2 的调节在不同器官和组织的机械感觉和转导中具有重要功能。最近，据报道压电家族的主要贡献发生在骨骼系统中，特别是在骨骼发育和机械刺激的骨骼稳态方面。在这里，我们回顾了当前针对 Piezo1 和 Piezo2 在不同背景下的组织特异性功能的研究，特别强调了它们在调节骨骼细胞力转导中的重要性。在这篇综述中，我们强调 Piezo1 和 Piezo2 的不同功能以及成骨细胞谱系细胞和软骨细胞中的相关信号通路。我们还总结了目前对压电通道结构的理解以及人类疾病中PIEZO基因突变的主要发现。