Urination is a vital function because it removes products and waste from the kidneys (Cortes et al., 2022). When it is time to urinate, the bladder fills up and the muscles become tense. A study conducted by the NIH discovered a gene that helps us know when it is time to urinate. The PIEZO2 gene has instructions to make proteins when cells are stretched. Patients with PIEZO2 genetic deficiency have a difficult time knowing when their bladder is full. Not only does this gene help with urination, but it also controls touch, vibration, pain, and proprioception. This gene is active in the dorsal root ganglion neurons which send signals from the brain to the bladder. “Umbrella” cells found in the bladder are also turned on by PIEZO2 when the bladder is filled with fluid. Deleting the gene in mice resulted in thick bladders causing a loss of sensation (Saade et al., 2020).
Marshall, K.L., Saade, D., Ghitani N et al., PIEZO2 in sensory neurons and urothelial cells coordinate urination in humans and in mice. Nature, October 14, 2020 DOI:10.1038/s41586-020-2830-7.
This is super interesting! It's crazy to see how daily bodily functions are controlled. I wonder if the deletion of this gene causes more then inability to know when your bladder is full. You said that this gene controls touch and pain. Would a deficiency in this gene cause an individual to not feel pain, or not know if something is causing them pain?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and thought it was very interesting. I had never heard of this gene before! Your post had me wonder if there was a PIEZO 1 gene, and if they were connected somehow. It turns out that PIEZO1 gene also plays a role in mechanically regulating bodily functions, and is also mainly activated by sensing stretch. PIEZO 1 is expressed in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, as well as organs such as the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, vagina, and other ducts. PIEZO1 was also found to not be limited to one cell type, since it was observed in endothelial and parietal cells of the renal corpuscle. Overall, it was proposed that similarly to PIEZO2, PIEZO1 responds to wall tension through sensory neurons.
ReplyDeleteDalghi, M. G., Clayton, D. R., Ruiz, W. G., Al-bataineh, M. M., Satlin, L. M., Kleyman, T. R., Ricke, W. A., Carattino, M. D., & Apodaca, G. (2019). Expression and distribution of piezo1 in the mouse urinary tract. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 317(2). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00214.2019