Scientists have made an exciting discovery about how our kidneys help control blood pressure. A new study has identified a special “pressure sensor” inside the kidney that helps the body detect changes in blood volume.
This finding could lead to a better understanding of how our body maintains a healthy balance of salt, water, and pressure.
The research was led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), working with other institutions. They discovered that a protein called PIEZO2 acts as a mechanical sensor inside kidney cells.
This protein responds when blood volume changes, triggering the release of a hormone called renin. Renin starts a chain reaction known as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which plays a key role in keeping blood pressure steady and managing fluid levels.
The study, published in the journal Cell, found that when PIEZO2 is missing, the kidneys release too much renin. This upsets the RAAS balance and causes the kidneys to filter blood too quickly. Over time, this can harm the kidneys and lead to serious health problems.
According to Dr. Rose Hill, the study’s lead author, scientists have long known that the kidneys use mechanical forces to control renin. But until now, they didn’t know what molecule was responsible for sensing those forces.
Dr. Hill, who is a professor at OHSU’s School of Medicine and the Vollum Institute, said it was a surprise to find PIEZO2 in these kidney cells. This protein was previously known mostly as a touch sensor in the nervous system.
The discovery helps fill a big gap in our understanding of how kidneys regulate blood pressure. Much of Dr. Hill’s research was done while working with Dr. Ardem Patapoutian at Scripps Research. Dr. Patapoutian won the 2021 Nobel Prize for discovering pressure-sensing ion channels like PIEZO2. He is also a co-author of this study.
The research team found that PIEZO2 helps the kidney respond to both short-term and long-term changes in blood volume. This includes situations like dehydration or drinking a lot of water.
When PIEZO2 isn’t working properly, the kidney acts as though the body is always low on fluid—even when it’s not. This can confuse the body and lead to problems with blood pressure and kidney function.
Dr. Hill explained that PIEZO proteins are known to act as pressure sensors in the body’s nerves. Now it’s clear that PIEZO2 also works as a sensor in the kidney. This shows that these proteins are important for monitoring blood pressure in many parts of the body, not just in the nervous system.
While this discovery doesn’t lead to a treatment yet, it opens the door for future research. Scientists currently don’t have medications that target PIEZO2 or similar sensors. But learning more about how this system works could help treat diseases where the kidneys are under stress, such as from dehydration or low blood volume.
One condition that may be linked is chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu). This illness affects many young farm workers in hot climates who often become dehydrated. Dr. Hill said that PIEZO2 and the renin-producing cells may be part of the puzzle in understanding why these workers develop kidney failure so early.
In summary, this study shows how the PIEZO2 protein helps kidneys sense pressure and maintain the body’s fluid balance. It solves a long-standing mystery and may eventually lead to new ways to protect kidney health and manage blood pressure.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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