Author Response: Spatiotemporal Dynamics of PIEZO1 Localization Controls Keratinocyte Migration During Wound Healing

Holt and colleagues studied the role of the mechanoreceptor Piezo1 in keratinocyte migration and wound healing, finding that its absence accelerated these processes, while increased activity slowed them. Piezo1 was found to cluster at the trailing edge of migrating cells and wound margins, regulating migration speed and affecting cell polarization and retraction. The study showed that the PIEZO1 agonist Yoda1 impaired wound closure at concentrations above 2 μM, highlighting PIEZO1's role in re-epithelialization. Increased PIEZO1 activity was associated with higher cell edge velocity, particularly in retraction, suggesting it slows migration and delays healing. The findings were supported by in vitro and in vivo experiments, despite some inconsistencies in control groups and conditions.