Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Two defining characteristics of stem cells are their multilineage differentiation potential (multipotency\nor pluripotency) and their capacity for self-renewal. Growth factors are well-established regulators\nof stem cell differentiation and self renewal, but less is known about the influence of the metabolic state on\nstem cell function. Recent studies investigating cellular metabolism during the differentiation of adult stem\ncells, human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells have demonstrated that activation\nof specific metabolic pathways depends on the type of stem cells as well as the lineage cells are\ndifferentiating into and that these metabolic pathways can influence the differentiation process. However,\nsome common patterns have emerged, suggesting that undifferentiated stem cells primarily rely on glycolysis\nto meet energy demands. Our own data indicate that undifferentiated ESCs not only exhibit a low\nmitochondrial membrane potential but also express high levels of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2\nand of glutamine metabolism regulators when compared with differentiated cells. More importantly, interventions\nthat target stem cell metabolism are able to either prevent or enhance differentiation. These findings\nsuggest that the metabolic state of stem cells is not just a marker of their differentiation status but also\nplays an active role in regulating stem cell function. Regulatory metabolic pathways in stem cells may thus\nserve as important checkpoints that can be modulated to direct the regenerative capacity of stem cells.
Source: Figshare
Authors: Lianghui Zhang (7927256), Glenn Marsboom (474315), Danielle Glick (7927259), Yanmin Zhang (391964), Peter T. Toth (7927262), Nicole Jones (7927265), Asrar B. Malik (183932), Jalees Rehman (474317)
Institution: University of Illinois Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3003754118