Role of mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in tension-side orthodontic alveolar bone remodeling in rats

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is based on alveolar bone remodeling under mechanical force. In 2010, Piezo1 was identified as a mechanosensitive ion channel that is involved in various physiological functions. We aimed to determine the role of Piezo1 in alveolar bone remodeling during OTM. Twenty-five six-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were selected to establish OTM models and sacrificed in groups of five on days 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14. Stereomicroscopy measurements, hematoxylin and eosin staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to examine the tooth movement distance, periodontal tissue morphology, and number of multinucleated osteoclasts, and explore the levels of Piezo1, bone-related factors, and Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway at different time points in tension-side periodontal tissues during OTM. Furthermore, we injected equivalent grammostola mechanotoxin 4 (GsMTx4; GsMTx4 group, 25 rats) or saline (control group, 25 rats) to OTM rats and recorded the aforementioned measurement indices. Piezo1, bone-related factors and Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway levels were elevated on the tension side by orthodontic force in the OTM model. GsMTX4 administration downregulated the aforementioned factors and reduced the tooth movement rate. Piezo1 is essential for alveolar bone remodeling during OTM. The Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway might participate in Piezo1-mediated bone remodeling. ●Piezo1 was activated and promoted during orthodontic tooth movement.●Piezo1 inhibitor GsMTx4 resulted in reduced tooth movement distance and downregulated bone-related factors.●GsMTx4 inhibited Wnt/Ca2+ signaling activation.