| Endogenous bioelectrical signaling is a powerful system that controls various cell functions such as regeneration, proliferation and differentiation. This project specifically aimed to study the connection between modulation of membrane voltage and cell senescence. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells of different passage numbers grown in depolarized/hyperpolarized conditions were tested in parallel to ascertain differences in varying phenotypes. Cell senescence characteristics were quantified by cumulative population doubling, changes in growth rate, attrition of telomere length and accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins P53, P21 and P16, which are often used as measures for the quantification of senescence.;The P53 protein pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating cell growth and apoptosis and is widely considered one of the most powerful tumor suppressor genes. The p21 pathway is called a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that controls progression at G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. The p21 protein is a known mediator of cell cycle checkpoint regulation and DNA damage response. The p16 retinoblastoma pathway works to inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases leading to G1 cell cycle arrest through the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein.;In addition, the premature aging disease Hutchinson Gilford Progeria syndrome was used as a model to better understand the connection between membrane voltage characteristics and cellular senescence. Experiments were conducted to measure how the Progeria syndrome may alter normal biophysical activity. |
