Abstract: Piezo1 is a mechanically-gated calcium channel. Recent studies have shown that Piezo1, a mechanically-gated calcium channel, can attenuate both psychosine- and lipopolysaccharide-induced demyelination. Because oligodendrocyte damage and demyelination occur in intracerebral hemorrhage, in this study, we investigated the role of Piezo1 in intracerebral hemorrhage. We established a mouse model of cerebral hemorrhage by injecting autologous blood into the right basal ganglia and found that Piezo1 was largely expressed soon (within 48 hours) after intracerebral hemorrhage, primarily in oligodendrocytes. Intraperitoneal injection of Dooku1 to inhibit Piezo1 resulted in marked alleviation of brain edema, myelin sheath loss, and degeneration in injured tissue, a substantial reduction in oligodendrocyte apoptosis, and a significant improvement in neurological function. In addition, we found that Dooku1-mediated Piezo1 suppression reduced intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis through the PERK-ATF4-CHOP and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that Piezo1 is a potential therapeutic target for intracerebral hemorrhage, as its suppression reduces intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis and protects the myelin sheath, thereby improving neuronal function after intracerebral hemorrhage. 

Key words: apoptosis, Ca2+ homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, intracerebral hemorrhage, myelin basic protein, myelin degradation, oligodendrocyte, Piezo1, stroke, white matter injury