Alignment and elongation of human adipose-derived stem cells in response to direct-current electrical stimulation.
In vivo, direct current electric fields are present during embryonic development and wound healing. In vitro, direct current (DC) electric fields induce directional cell migration and elongation. For the first time, we demonstrate that cultured human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) respond to the presence of direct-current electric fields. Cells were stimulated for 2-4 hours with DC electric fields of 6 V/cm that were similar to those encountered in vivo post-injury. Upon stimulation, hASCs were observed to elongate and align perpendicularly to the applied electric field, disassemble gap junctions, and upregulate the expression of genes for connexin-43, thrombomodulin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor. In separate related studies, human epicardial fat-derived stem cells (heASCs) were also observed to align and elongate. It is interesting that the morphological and phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells derived both from liposuction aspirates and from cardiac fat can be modulated by direct current electric fields. In further studies, we will quantify the effects of the electrical fields in the context of wound healing.
Tandon
Nina
N
Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 622 west 168th Street, Vanderbilt Clinic 12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA. nmt2104@columbia.edu
Goh
Brian
B
Marsano
Anna
A
Chao
Pen-Hsiu Grace
PH
Montouri-Sorrentino
Chrystina
C
Gimble
Jeffrey
J
Vunjak-Novakovic
Gordana
G
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000528:radiation effects; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000528:radiation effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects