Cited by 5Liver physiology and pathologyTissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineCellular Mechanics and Interactions

Zonated mechanosensing by PIEZO1 controls liver regeneration

Zhang, Ying, Sun, Yuzhuo, Xu, Guangkui, Wu, Yue, Shi, Zhijun, Chang, Zhuo, Liu, Junjun, Pang, Kaidan +12 more·2026·Science

Abstract

The liver exhibits a marked regenerative capacity organized through distinct zones, yet how tissue mechanics coordinate zonated proliferation remains elusive. We reveal that mechanical cues critically contribute to mouse liver regeneration in a highly region-specific manner through sensing by a subpopulation of mid-lobular hepatocytes, which are characterized by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) expression and represent the key proliferative pool of hepatocytes. PIEZO1 is a primary mechanosensor enriched in zone 2 DPP4 + hepatocytes that integrates biomechanical cues to drive liver regrowth by insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2). Genetic disruption of PIEZO1 restrains hepatocyte proliferation and compromises liver regeneration, whereas zonated PIEZO1 gain of function enhances proliferation and accelerates recovery. These findings reveal that DPP4 + mechanosensitive hepatocytes orchestrate liver regrowth through PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensing, establishing a link between tissue mechanics and liver regeneration.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.aef0825

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  1. 10.1126/science.aav2501 · DOI · Paper page

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Authors
Zhang, Y., Sun, Y., Xu, G., Wu, Y., Shi, Z., Chang, Z., Liu, J., Pang, K., Liu, S., Wang, H., Rong, W., Shao, Z., Liu, X., He, Y., Yan, Y., Zhou, B., Yuan, Z., Zhang, X.-F., Offermanns, S., & Wang, S.
Affiliations
  • Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China.
  • Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Med-X Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China.
  • Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China.
  • First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
  • State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Structure Strength and Vibration
  • Techshake Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xi’an, Shaanxi, China.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Zhou, Bin
  • Yuan, Zuyi
  • Zhang, Xu-Feng
  • Offermanns, Stefan
  • Wang, Shengpeng
Venue
Science
Published
2026-07-02
Volume
393
Issue
6806
Pages
eaef0825-eaef0825
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W7167096808
Cited by
5
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 5
FWCI
18.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (W2411074, 82470440, 82430019, 2024YFA1803302, W2511094, 82170608)
  • National key R&D program of China (2021YFA1301200)
  • Shaanxi Natural Science Fund (2023-CX-TD-71)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hepatology › Liver physiology and pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
Keywords
liver regeneration, Piezo1, mechanosensing, hepatocyte proliferation, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, IGFBP-2, tissue mechanics, mechanotransduction
MeSH terms
Animals, Ion Channels, Liver, Liver Regeneration, Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4, Hepatocytes, Mechanotransduction, Cellular, Cell Proliferation, Mice

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