Membrane potentials and sodium channels: Hypotheses for growth regulation and cancer formation based on changes in sodium channels and gap junctions

Proliferative cells, especially rapidly proliferating tumor cells, displayed depolarized Vm, whereas non-proliferating, terminally differentiated somatic cells, such as muscle cells and neurons, are characterized by their hyperpolarized Vm.

“Recordings from rodent and human tissues have revealed that proliferative cells, especially rapidly proliferating tumor cells, displayed depolarized Vm, whereas non-proliferating, terminally differentiated somatic cells, such as muscle cells and neurons, are characterized by their hyperpolarized Vm (Figure 1) [reviewed in Binggeli and Weinstein (1986)].”

Changes in Vm control critical cell functions including proliferation, migration, and differentiation.

“Since then, changes in Vm, representing the long-term, slowly changing bioelectric gradient in non-excitable cells (Lobikin et al., 2012), have been shown to control critical cell functions including proliferation, migration, and differentiation (Binggeli and Weinstein, 1986; Schwab et al., 2007; Blackiston et al., 2009; Sundelacruz et al., 2009).”

In both highly proliferative tumor and non-tumor cells, depolarization is believed to serve as a signal that could initiate mitosis and DNA synthesis.

“In general, in both highly proliferative tumor and non-tumor cells, depolarization is believed to serve as a signal that could initiate mitosis and DNA synthesis (Orr et al., 1972; Binggeli and Weinstein, 1986).”

Vm modulates important cellular activities, such as proliferation and differentiation.

“changes in Vm, representing the long-term, slowly changing bioelectric gradient in non-excitable cells (Lobikin et al., 2012), have been shown to control critical cell functions including proliferation, migration, and differentiation (Binggeli and Weinstein, 1986; Schwab et al., 2007; Blackiston et al., 2009; Sundelacruz et al., 2009).”