Research advances in K⁺ and Ca²⁺ permeable ion channels in regulation of vascular resident stem cells

Stem cells have the potential of self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation and are involved in homeostasis and tissue repair. Recently, numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that a variety of stem/progenitor cells are resident in vascular wall, which can differentiate into endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells once being activated, and participate in structural and functional remodeling after vascular injury. Ion channels are the basis for the generation of bioelectrical signals and contribute to the substance information exchange between cells and the surrounding environment, and they play important roles in the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of various cells. However, there are relatively few studies on ion channels of vascular resident stem cells. It is well known that K ⁺ and Ca^{2 +} are important signaling molecules, and the K ⁺ and Ca^{2 +} permeable ion channels synergically contribute to maintaining normal cell function. Recent studies suggest that these ion channels participate in the regulation of proliferation, migration, and differentiation of stem cells, indicating their potential function in vascular resident stem cells. This review summarizes the recent progress in the mainly distributed K ⁺ and Ca^{2 +} permeable ion channels in blood vessels, and the potential role of these ion channels in the regulation of the biological activities of vascular stem cells, to pave the way for further exploring the structural and electrophysiological remodeling mechanism, as well as the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the development of ion channel-targeted drugs.