Infection-induced membrane ruffling initiates danger and immune signaling via the mechanosensor PIEZO1

Abstract

influx and ATP secretion. Mimicking mechanical stimuli of pathogen uptake with sterile beads equally elicits ATP secretion. Chemical or genetic PIEZO1 inactivation inhibits mechanically induced ATP secretion. Moreover, chemical or mechanical PIEZO1 activation evokes gene expression in immune and barrier pathways. Thus, mechanosensation of invasion-induced plasma membrane distortion initiates immune signaling upon infection, independently of detection of microbial molecules. Hence, PIEZO1-dependent detection of infection is driven by physical signals instead of chemical ligands.