Bioelectric signaling: Reprogrammable circuits underlying embryogenesis, regeneration, and cancer

Cell · 2021 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

← Research stream

UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 6826

Study snapshot

PublicationCell · 2021

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

How are individual cell behaviors coordinated toward invariant large-scale anatomical outcomes in development and regeneration despite unpredictable perturbations? Endogenous distributions of membrane potentials, produced by ion channels and gap junctions, are present across all tissues. These bioelectrical networks process morphogenetic information that controls gene expression, enabling cell collectives to make decisions about large-scale growth and form. Recent progress in the analysis and computational modeling of developmental bioelectric circuits and channelopathies reveals how cellular collectives cooperate toward organ-level structural order. These advances suggest a roadmap for exploiting bioelectric signaling for interventions addressing developmental disorders, regenerative medicine, cancer reprogramming, and synthetic bioengineering.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 96% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review describes how endogenous membrane potential distributions generated by ion channels and gap junctions form bioelectrical networks that coordinate morphogenesis, gene expression, and large-scale anatomical patterning. It highlights recent progress in analysis and computational modeling and discusses potential applications in developmental disorders, regenerative medicine, cancer reprogramming, and synthetic bioengineering.

Outcomes measured

embryogenesis
regeneration
cancer reprogramming
developmental bioelectric circuits
channelopathies
morphogenesis
gene expression control

Limitations

Review article rather than a primary experimental study
No single population or sample size reported in the abstract
Abstract does not provide quantitative effect estimates

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "embryogenesis",
    "regeneration",
    "cancer reprogramming",
    "developmental bioelectric circuits",
    "channelopathies",
    "morphogenesis",
    "gene expression control"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review describes how endogenous membrane potential distributions generated by ion channels and gap junctions form bioelectrical networks that coordinate morphogenesis, gene expression, and large-scale anatomical patterning. It highlights recent progress in analysis and computational modeling and discusses potential applications in developmental disorders, regenerative medicine, cancer reprogramming, and synthetic bioengineering.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Review article rather than a primary experimental study",
    "No single population or sample size reported in the abstract",
    "Abstract does not provide quantitative effect estimates"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.96,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "bioelectric signaling",
    "membrane potential",
    "ion channels",
    "gap junctions",
    "embryogenesis",
    "regeneration",
    "cancer",
    "morphogenesis",
    "development",
    "channelopathies",
    "computational modeling",
    "synthetic bioengineering"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.034
PubMed: 33826908

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library