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.