Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are becoming increasingly popular in tissue engineering. They are the most frequently used stem cell source for clinical applications due to their high potential to differentiate into several lineages. Cartilage is known for its low capacity for self-maintenance and currently there are no efficient methods to improve cartilage repair. Chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC isolated from different tissues is widely employed due to a high clinical demand for the improvement of cartilage regeneration. Calcium channels that are regulated by physical stimuli seem to play a pivotal role in chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. These channels increase intracellular calcium concentration, which leads to the initiation of the relevant cellular processes that are required for differentiation. This review will focus on the impact of different physical stimuli, including electrical, electromagnetic/magnetic and mechanical on various calcium channels and calcium signaling mechanisms during chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC.
Keywords: calcium channels; chondrogenic differentiation; electrical stimulation; electromagnetic field; human mesenchymal stem cells; magnetic field; mechanical stimulation.