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Ion Channels

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Purification, Expansion, and Flow Cytometry-Based Phenotyping of Mouse Derived Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Purification, Expansion, and Flow Cytometry-Based Phenotyping of Mouse Derived Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Published on: July 11, 2025

Functional ion channels in mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Rong Tao¹, Chu-Pak Lau, Hung-Fat Tse

¹Department of Medicine and Research Center of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology

|August 19, 2007

Summary

Undifferentiated mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess functional ion channels, including inwardly rectifying potassium (I(Kir)), calcium-activated potassium (I(KCa)), and chloride (I(Cl)) currents, crucial for their electrophysiological properties.

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Published on: July 30, 2019

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cellular Electrophysiology
Stem Cell Biology

Background:

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for cardiomyoplasty.
The electrophysiological properties of MSCs, particularly their ion channel expression, are not fully understood.
Understanding these properties is essential for optimizing MSC-based therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional ionic channels in undifferentiated mouse bone marrow MSCs.
To characterize the types of ionic currents present and identify the underlying ion channel genes and proteins.

Main Methods:

Whole-cell patch-voltage clamp technique to measure ionic currents.
RT-PCR to detect ion channel gene expression.
Western immunoblotting to confirm ion channel protein presence.

Main Results:

Three distinct ionic currents were identified: inwardly rectifying potassium (I(Kir)), calcium-activated potassium (I(KCa)), and chloride (I(Cl)).
Specific blockers and activators confirmed the nature of each current (e.g., Ba(2+) for I(Kir), A-23187 for I(KCa), hyposmotic conditions for I(Cl)).
RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of KCa3.1, Kir2.1, and Clcn3 genes and proteins, corresponding to I(KCa), I(Kir), and I(Cl), respectively.

Conclusions:

Undifferentiated mouse bone marrow MSCs exhibit functional ion channel currents, including I(Kir), I(KCa), and I(Cl).
These findings elucidate the electrophysiological profile of MSCs.
This knowledge is vital for advancing MSC applications in regenerative medicine, such as cardiomyoplasty.