Shear stress governs hematopoietic stem cell fate to promote inflammation-induced aging

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in the bone marrow in a quiescent state, but can be mobilized into the blood in response to inflammation, cytokine stimulation, nervous activity or hypoxia. Chronic inflammation, a hallmark of aging, accelerates HSC aging by promoting myeloid-biased differentiation and reducing self-renewal capacity, yet the role of mechanical stimulation in regulating these processes remains poorly understood. Here, we found that PIEZO1 senses shear stress in blood flow to induce HSC proliferation and myelopoiesis. We show that shear stress induces PIEZO1-mediated ion currents and Ca²⁺ influx in both mouse and human HSCs, with downstream effects on proliferation and myeloid differentiation mediated via JAM3 and CAPN2 pathways. GsMTx4, a PIEZO1 antagonist, attenuated inflammation-induced aging in mice by inhibiting HSC activation. These findings link the mechanical sensor PIEZO1 to HSC proliferation and myeloid differentiation via multi-tiered signaling, highlighting its role in accelerating inflammation-induced aging.