title: Stem cells and calcium signaling.
abstract: The increasing interest in stem cell research is linked to the promise of developing treatments for many lifethreatening, debilitating diseases, and for cell replacement therapies. However, performing these therapeutic innovations with safety will only be possible when an accurate knowledge about the molecular signals that promote the desired cell fate is reached. Among these signals are transient changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration [Ca(2+)](i). Acting as an intracellular messenger, Ca(2+) has a key role in cell signaling pathways in various differentiation stages of stem cells. The aim of this chapter is to present a broad overview of various moments in which Ca(2+)-mediated signaling is essential for the maintenance of stem cells and for promoting their development and differentiation, also focusing on their therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Insitute of Exact Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda M P
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Tonelli
authors.forename: Anderson K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Dawidson A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Saulo L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Katia N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Luiz O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ladeira
authors.forename: Rodrigo R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Resende
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium