title: Stem cell lineage commitment by electrical fields and the potential application in drug discovery.
abstract: Stem cells may be applied to improve the efficiency of drug discovery, but more effective protocols are first required to control the differentiation. Recent researches have revealed that physical stimulation is an important avenue for stem cell lineage commitment, such as electrical field stimulation. Here, we review literatures about stem cell differentiation by electrical field stimulation. Various forms of electrical fields with soluble induction factors have shown to produce a synergistic effect in order to enhance the osteogenic commitment. Moreover, electrical field stimulation alone shows marked effects of pre-commitment to cardiomyocyte and neuron. However, the related precise molecular regulatory mechanism is unclear. As cardiomyocyte and neuron are crucial factors in drug development process, electrical field stimulation may be proposed as an effect important for stem cell differentiation, exhibiting a potential application in drug discovery.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
authors.forename: Hanwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Liling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*