Ion channels discovered in human embryonic stem cells will make the cells safer for clinical use announced University of Hong Kong.

Embryonic stem cell is the only type of human stem cells capable of becoming all human cell types, including highly specialized cells such as brain and heart cells.

Discovery of the ion channels, valves in a cell’s outer membrane that allow and control the passage of charged atoms, has given hope to cut down possibility of tumor formation in embryonic stem cell therapies, claimed the scientists.

Since electrical activity is known to regulate cell differentiation and proliferation, scientists may eliminate tumorgenic potential by selectively blocking, pharmacological or genetically, ion channels in implanted cells.

The discovery will allow scientists a better understanding of how human embryonic stem ceclls regulate their cell division and differentiation, which is critical for engineering healthy grafts.

Scientists also expect the discovery to lead to genetic strategies that suppress undesirable cell division after transplantation, for they found blocking potassium channels in ESCs slowed their growth.

The research results have been published on the latest issue of Stem Cells and summarized on the university’s website www.hku.hk/facmed/press.

Source: Xinhua