Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
10:48
Rapid, Directed Differentiation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Human Embryonic or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: October 30, 2017
14.3K
Stem cell passage affects directional migration of stem cells in electrotaxis
Seung Hee Hong1, Mi Hee Lee2, Min-Ah Koo1
1Cellbiocontrol Laboratory, Department of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
Stem Cell Research
|June 9, 2019
Summary
Early passage stem cells migrate towards an anode under electric current, while senescent cells show reduced migration. Electrotaxis analysis effectively distinguishes young from senescent stem cells for cell therapy applications.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Stem cells are crucial for regenerative medicine due to their differentiation potential.
- Early passage stem cells exhibit superior differentiation capacity compared to senescent cells.
- Distinguishing young from senescent stem cells is vital for effective cell therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate electrotaxis as a method for differentiating young and senescent stem cells.
- To assess the relationship between stem cell passage number and electrotaxis behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electrotaxis, applying direct electric current to stem cells.
- Observed and quantified cell migration patterns in response to electric stimuli.
- Compared migration behavior of early passage (young) and late passage (senescent) stem cells.
Main Results:
- Stem cells exhibited random movement without electric stimulus.
- A direct electric current induced directional migration in stem cells.
- Early passage stem cells predominantly migrated towards the anode.
- Senescent stem cells showed a decreased percentage of anode-directed migration with increasing passage number.
Conclusions:
- Stem cell electrotaxis behavior is dependent on their passage number and senescence status.
- Electrotaxis migration analysis serves as a reliable method to distinguish between young and senescent stem cells.
- This finding has implications for quality control in cell therapy and tissue engineering.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Adult Stem Cells
33.4K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
33.4K
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
32.1K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
32.1K
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
4.8K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
4.8K
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
27.3K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
27.3K
01:21Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration
4.4K
Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon...
4.4K
01:18Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells
4.5K
A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
4.5K