Editorial
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World J Stem Cells. Mar 26, 2011; 3(3): 19-24
Published online Mar 26, 2011. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v3.i3.19
Functional ion channels in stem cells
Gui-Rong Li, Xiu-Ling Deng
Gui-Rong Li, Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Xiu-Ling Deng, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Li GR and Deng XL both contributed to this paper.
Supported by (in part) Grants (734703M and 8CRF09) from the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Gui-Rong Li, Associate Professor, L4-59, Laboratory Block, FBM, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. grli@hkucc.hku.hk
Telephone: +852-2819-9513 Fax: +852-2855-9730
Received: October 30, 2010
Revised: January 14, 2011
Accepted: January 21, 2011
Published online: March 26, 2011
Abstract

Bioelectrical signals generated by ion channels play crucial roles in excitation genesis and impulse conduction in excitable cells as well as in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis in proliferative cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple ion channels are heterogeneously present in different stem cells; however, patterns and phenotypes of ion channels are species- and/or origin-dependent. This editorial review focuses on the recent findings related to the expression of functional ion channels and the roles of these channels in regulation of cell proliferation in stem cells. Additional effort is required in the future to clarify the ion channel expression in different types of stem cells; special attention should be paid to the relationship between ion channels and stem cell proliferation, migration and differentiation.

Keywords: Stem cells, Ion channels, Proliferation