About this Research Topic
An in-depth understanding of stem cells is important for pushing the frontiers of a) regenerative medicine and healthy aging; b) in designing appropriate stem cell based therapies and c) in understanding the stem cell driven etiology of diseases like cancer and others. Embryonic and adult stem cells self-renew and differentiate into their progenies as guided by the in vivo niche or stimulation provided in vitro. It is now appreciated that modulation of energetics and metabolism is key for the processes of stem cell quiescence, self-renewal and differentiation. Mitochondria are classically recognized as the seat of cellular energetics and metabolism, while involvement of mitochondria in other cellular processes like redox, calcium or lipid homeostasis, cell signalling, cell death, cell motility, immunity, etc., have also been discovered. Various mitochondrial properties have been found to be distinct between stem cells and their differentiated counterparts. Therefore, mechanistic understanding of the exact role and regulation of mitochondria in stem cells is critical.
In this Research Topic, we aim to tackle the question of how mitochondria are regulated in stem cells (normal/neoplastic/adult/embryonic) towards impacting their properties. Mitochondrial regulation may happen at the level of their function, biogenesis, degradation, fission/fusion abilities, ultra-structure, motility, mt-DNA, etc.
In recent years, there has been a tremendous boost in trying to understand stem cell metabolism and energetics. Thus, studying the role and regulation of mitochondria in stem cells becomes more relevant than ever, given mitochondria are at the center of the cellular metabolism and energetics. The involvement of mitochondrial energetics/metabolism has been relatively more studied in redox and epigenetic regulation of stem cells. However, there could be other plausible contribution of mitochondria in stem cell regulation.
We would like contributors to address one or more of the following aspects of healthy and/or diseased stem cells, in the form of reviews or original research papers:
• Plasticity in mitochondrial energetics and/or metabolism in stem cells
• Heterogeneity in mitochondrial properties within stem cell populations
• Crosstalk between mitochondria and signaling in governing stem cell properties
• Impact of stem cell niche on mitochondrial properties
• Co-ordination of mitochondrial energetics and metabolic changes in stem cells
• Cross talk between mitochondrial dynamics and function in stem cells
• Mitochondrial markers for distinguishing stem, progenitor and their differentiated counterparts
• Tissue specific differences in mitochondrial properties in adult stem cells
• Involvement of mitochondria in neoplastic transformation or aging of stem cells
• Omics or systems level comparison of mitochondria in stem cells and their differentiated counterparts
In this Research Topic, we aim to tackle the question of how mitochondria are regulated in stem cells (normal/neoplastic/adult/embryonic) towards impacting their properties. Mitochondrial regulation may happen at the level of their function, biogenesis, degradation, fission/fusion abilities, ultra-structure, motility, mt-DNA, etc.
In recent years, there has been a tremendous boost in trying to understand stem cell metabolism and energetics. Thus, studying the role and regulation of mitochondria in stem cells becomes more relevant than ever, given mitochondria are at the center of the cellular metabolism and energetics. The involvement of mitochondrial energetics/metabolism has been relatively more studied in redox and epigenetic regulation of stem cells. However, there could be other plausible contribution of mitochondria in stem cell regulation.
We would like contributors to address one or more of the following aspects of healthy and/or diseased stem cells, in the form of reviews or original research papers:
• Plasticity in mitochondrial energetics and/or metabolism in stem cells
• Heterogeneity in mitochondrial properties within stem cell populations
• Crosstalk between mitochondria and signaling in governing stem cell properties
• Impact of stem cell niche on mitochondrial properties
• Co-ordination of mitochondrial energetics and metabolic changes in stem cells
• Cross talk between mitochondrial dynamics and function in stem cells
• Mitochondrial markers for distinguishing stem, progenitor and their differentiated counterparts
• Tissue specific differences in mitochondrial properties in adult stem cells
• Involvement of mitochondria in neoplastic transformation or aging of stem cells
• Omics or systems level comparison of mitochondria in stem cells and their differentiated counterparts
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
