Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (23): 4984-4992.doi: 10.12307/2025.082

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Electrotactic migration and mechanisms of stem cells

Han Fang1, 2, Shu Qing2, Jia Shaohui1, Tian Jun1, 2   

  1. 1School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; 2Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2024-03-12 Accepted:2024-05-21 Online:2025-08-18 Published:2024-09-30
  • Contact: Tian Jun, MD, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Han Fang, Master candidate, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), No. 82174494 (to TJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: With the deepening of research on stem cell technology, how to make its accurate homing has become a major problem in clinical application. In addition to the induction of drugs and chemokines, electric fields are also widely used to guide the directional migration of stem cells. They can enhance their migration speed and orientation. 
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effect of an electric field on the characteristics of stem cell migration and analyze the possible mechanism of action. 
METHODS: PubMed and CNKI databases were searched to collect relevant literature up to March 2024, with Chinese and English search terms “stem cells, direct current electric field, pulsed electric field, migration, electric field device, mechanism.” Literature that was not available in full text and unrelated to the topic was excluded.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 58 articles were included according to the screening requirements, including 15 Chinese articles and 43 English articles. In the literature, the effects of different parameters of the electric field on the migration of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, epidermal stem cells, human embryonic stem cells, and human induced pluripotent stem cells and its mechanism were studied in a migration device. (1) As a simple, non-invasive, and stable intervention method, the electric field plays an active role in guiding the directional migration of stem cells. (2) Different types of stem cells had different directions of electrotaxis migration, and the migration speed and directionality of most stem cells increased with the increase of electric field intensity. (3) Different electric field devices have different focuses in observing stem cell migration, and the relevant devices can be selected according to the purpose of the experiment. (4) The mechanism of electrotaxis migration of different stem cells is not completely the same. MAPK pathway, ROCK activation, and PI3K function are involved in the migration process of most stem cells, and other protein complexes and signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of this process. (5) In addition to different electric field parameters, cell senescence and culture environment also affect the results of electrotaxis migration. In summary, as an important signal that affects the migration characteristics of stem cells, the application of electric field combined with other emerging materials has shown certain potential in tissue engineering. It is expected to play a more important role in guiding stem cells to home, promoting bone tissue regeneration and repair, and making greater breakthroughs in the research of the nervous system, autoimmune system, tumors, and other diseases.

Key words: stem cell, electric field, electrotaxis, migration mechanism, homing effect, physical factor, electric field device, cell senescence, culture environment

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