Ion channels and transporters in adipose-derived stem cells

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) can be expanded in vitro and differentiated into numerous specialized cell types because of their self-renewal and multipotential differentiation properties. Their main advantage over other tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells is in being easily and repeatedly harvested using minimally invasive techniques with low morbidity. They have been used for tissue repair and regeneration and are currently recognized as attractive candidates for substituting tissue or organ transplantation. Ion channels and transporters are involved in various cell responses, which make them fascinating drug targets. This logic may also be applicable to ADSC and therefore, it is necessary to arrange ADSC’s ion channels and transporters information. Ion channels and transporters are involved in dynamic changes in survival, proliferation, and differentiation of ADSCs. Their protein expressions are heterogeneous among different types of stem cells. They are involved in regulating excitation genesis and impulse conduction in excitable cells and they play a role in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in proliferative cells. This review aims to provide a brief overview of the expression of various ion channels and transporters in ADSCs and to discuss their functional roles in the proliferation and differentiation of ADSCs.