Piezo1 channel activation mimics high glucose as a stimulator of insulin release.

Glucose and hypotonicity induced cell swelling stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β-cells but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recently, Piezo1 was identified as a mechanically-activated nonselective Ca permeable cationic channel in a range of mammalian cells. As cell swelling induced insulin release could be through stimulation of Ca permeable stretch activated channels, we hypothesised a role for Piezo1 in cell swelling induced insulin release.