Piezo 1 and Shear-induced Erythrocyte Transformation and Procoagulant Activity: Implication for LVAD-Induced Bleeding.

Piezo1-driven deformation of red blood cells under shear stress promotes procoagulant activity, contributing to systemic coagulopathy in LVAD patients.

• Why it matters: LVAD-induced bleeding and thrombosis pose significant clinical challenges, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, hindering targeted interventions for these complications.
• What they did: Using proteomic analysis and in vitro and mouse models, the study examined EMV-associated molecules, RBC deformation, and the role of Piezo1 in shear stress-induced microvesiculation in LVAD patients.
• The result: Deformed, PS-expressing RBCs increased markedly after LVAD implantation, were highly procoagulant, and contributed to coagulopathy, highlighting Piezo1 as a potential therapeutic target to mitigate bleeding and thrombotic risks.