Mechanical Stress Induces Ca(2+)-Dependent Signal Transduction in Erythroblasts and Modulates Erythropoiesis

Bioreactors are increasingly implemented for large scale cultures of various mammalian cells, which requires optimization of culture conditions. Such upscaling is also required to produce red blood cells (RBC) for transfusion and therapy purposes. However, the physiological suitability of RBC cultures to be transferred to stirred bioreactors is not well understood. PIEZO1 is the most abundantly expressed known mechanosensor on erythroid cells. It is a cation channel that translates mechanical forces directly into a physiological response. We investigated signaling cascades downstream of PIEZO1 activated upon transitioning stationary cultures to orbital shaking associated with mechanical stress, and compared the results to direct activation of PIEZO1 by the chemical agonist Yoda1. Erythroblasts subjected to orbital shaking displayed decreased proliferation, comparable to incubation in the presence of a low dose of Yoda1. Epo (Erythropoietin)-dependent STAT5 phosphorylation, and Calcineurin-dependent NFAT dephosphorylation was enhanced. Phosphorylation of ERK was also induced by both orbital shaking and Yoda1 treatment. Activation of these pathways was inhibited by intracellular Ca(2+) chelation (BAPTA-AM) in the orbital shaker. Our results suggest that PIEZO1 is functional and could be activated by the mechanical forces in a bioreactor setup, and results in the induction of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling cascades regulating various aspects of erythropoiesis. With this study, we showed that Yoda1 treatment and mechanical stress induced via orbital shaking results in comparable activation of some Ca(2+)-dependent pathways, exhibiting that there are direct physiological outcomes of mechanical stress on erythroblasts.