Research progress on the role of Piezo1 in dental and periodontal tissues

Piezo1 is a Ca²⁺-permeable mechanosensitive ion channel that plays a central role in mechanosensing and signal transduction in dental and periodontal tissues. In tooth tissue, Piezo1 is a key factor mediating dentin sensitive pain. The flow of dentinal tubule fluid induced by external stimulation can activate the Piezo1 channel on odontoblasts, triggering neuronal signals through the pannexin-1-purinergic 2X3 receptor (PANX-1-P2X3) receptor axis, resulting in pain perception. In addition, Piezo1 has a dual regulatory role in the process of pulp inflammation and repair : on the one hand, its expression is up-regulated in an inflammatory environment, which may aggravate pain sensitivity; on the other hand, it activates the migration, proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells by mediating Ca²⁺ influx, ATP release and downstream purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7R), MEK / ERK signaling pathways, thereby promoting reparative dentin formation. In periodontal tissue, Piezo1 plays a central role in maintaining periodontal tissue homeostasis and regulating alveolar bone remodeling by sensing mechanical stimuli such as bite force. During orthodontic tooth movement, Piezo1 promotes osteogenic differentiation by activating Wnt / Ca²⁺, Notch and other pathways on the tension side. It affects osteoclast activity by regulating receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/OPG) balance on the pressure side. At the same time, Piezo1 is also a key regulator of periodontal immune microenvironment. It is expressed in immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. Its activation can promote the polarization of macrophages to pro-inflammatory M1 type, enhance the release of pro-inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinases, and thus aggravate the inflammatory destruction of periodontal tissue.In view of its multiple functions, Piezo1 has become a potential therapeutic target, including local or systemic application of its inhibitors, mechanical intervention, physical therapy, gene therapy and stem cell therapy, showing a broad clinical transformation prospect in the treatment of oral diseases. In this paper, the structural characteristics, signal transduction mechanism of Piezo1 and its expression distribution, function and regulatory network in tooth tissue and periodontal tissue are reviewed, so as to provide ideas for the development of oral disease treatment strategies targeting Piezo1.