TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrical stimulation modulates fate determination of differentiating embryonic stem cells
AU - Yamada, Masahisa
AU - Tanemura, Kentaro
AU - Okada, Seiji
AU - Iwanami, Akio
AU - Nakamura, Masaya
AU - Mizuno, Hideaki
AU - Ozawa, Michiru
AU - Ohyama-Goto, Ritsuko
AU - Kitamura, Naohito
AU - Kawano, Masako
AU - Tan-Takeuchi, Kyoko
AU - Ohtsuka, Chiho
AU - Miyawaki, Atsushi
AU - Takashima, Akihiko
AU - Ogawa, Masaharu
AU - Toyama, Yoshiaki
AU - Okano, Hideyuki
AU - Kondo, Takashi
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - A clear understanding of cell fate regulation during differentiation is key in successfully using stem cells for therapeutic applications. Here, we report that mild electrical stimulation strongly influences embryonic stem cells to assume a neuronal fate. Although the resulting neuronal cells showed no sign of specific terminal differentiation in culture, they showed potential to differentiate into various types of neurons in vivo, and, in adult mice, contributed to the injured spinal cord as neuronal cells. Induction of calcium ion influx is significant in this differentiation system. This phenomenon opens up possibilities for understanding novel mechanisms underlying cellular differentiation and early development, and, perhaps more importantly, suggests possibilities for treatments in medical contexts.
AB - A clear understanding of cell fate regulation during differentiation is key in successfully using stem cells for therapeutic applications. Here, we report that mild electrical stimulation strongly influences embryonic stem cells to assume a neuronal fate. Although the resulting neuronal cells showed no sign of specific terminal differentiation in culture, they showed potential to differentiate into various types of neurons in vivo, and, in adult mice, contributed to the injured spinal cord as neuronal cells. Induction of calcium ion influx is significant in this differentiation system. This phenomenon opens up possibilities for understanding novel mechanisms underlying cellular differentiation and early development, and, perhaps more importantly, suggests possibilities for treatments in medical contexts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847638153&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33847638153&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0011
DO - 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0011
M3 - Article
C2 - 17110622
AN - SCOPUS:33847638153
SN - 1066-5099
VL - 25
SP - 562
EP - 570
JO - STEM CELLS
JF - STEM CELLS
IS - 3
ER -