Piezo1 activation augments sickling propensity and the adhesive properties of sickle red blood cells in a calcium-dependent manner

Haemoglobin S polymerization in the red blood cells (RBCs) of individuals with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) can cause RBC sickling and cellular alterations. Piezo1 is a mechanosensitive protein that modulates intracellular calcium (Ca2+) influx, and its activation has been associated with increased RBC surface membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure. Hypothesizing that Piezo1 activation, and ensuing Gardos channel activity, alter sickle RBC properties, RBCs from patients with SCA were incubated with the Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1 (0.1-10 mu M). Oxygen-gradient ektacytometry and membrane potential measurement showed that Piezo1 activation significantly decreased sickle RBC deformability, augmented sickling propensity, and triggered pronounced membrane hyperpolarization, in association with Gardos channel activation and Ca2+ influx. Yoda1 induced Ca2+-dependent adhesion of sickle RBCs to laminin, in microfluidic assays, mediated by increased BCAM binding affinity. Furthermore, RBCs from SCA patients that were homo-/heterozygous for the rs59446030 gain-of-function Piezo1 variant demonstrated enhanced sickling under deoxygenation and increased PS exposure. Thus, Piezo1 stimulation decreases sickle RBC deformability, and increases the propensities of these cells to sickle upon deoxygenation and adhere to laminin. Results support a role of Piezo1 in some of the RBC properties that contribute to SCA vaso-occlusion, indicating that Piezo1 may represent a potential therapeutic target molecule for this disease.