Both intrinsic and extrinsic cues regulate stem cell behavior. Throughout the past several decades, multiple conserved signaling pathways have been shown to control different aspects of stem cell dynamics, including the choice between self-renewal and differentiation. Recently, it has been realized that changes in metabolism can also influence stem cell behavior, adding another layer of regulation. Rather than being simply passive cues, changes in the metabolic requirements of stem and niche cells can influence how the stem cell niche behaves in homeostatic and pathophysiological conditions. The elucidation of how metabolism impacts the maintenance, fate, and activity of stem cells could have major biomedical benefits, opening doors to the development of novel therapies aiming to preserve and/or reverse the detrimental effects of metabolic disorders in tissue and organ function.
Metabolic organelles (such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes), as well as metabolic pathways and processes, such as autophagy, TOR, AMPK, and many others, can influence stem cell behavior and fate. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which these metabolic regulators influence stem cells remain elusive. This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of how metabolic changes lead to altered stem cell behavior during homeostasis and pathophysiological conditions. Original research and review articles focusing on how changes observed in age, stress, pathology, and other conditions affect tissue regeneration and stem cell function are highly encouraged. The detailed investigation of how processes controlled by metabolism (such as energy generation, metabolite availability, secondary messenger signaling, epigenetic changes, etc.) mechanistically impact stem cells is also encouraged.
The topic editors welcome various article types (including Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and (Mini-) Reviews) focusing on, but not limited to, the following subthemes:
• The mechanisms behind the metabolic control of stem cells
• Correlation versus causation between metabolism and stem cell fate
• Intrinsic (cell-autonomous) vs systemic metabolic regulation of stem cells
• The role of metabolic organelles in stem cell fate
• Pathophysiological changes in metabolism and their impact on stem cells.
Topic editor, Andrés Caicedo, is the scientific founder and advisor of Dragon Biomed, an entrepreneurial initiative at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). He also serves as a scientific advisor in the Research and Development department of Luvigix. In these capacities, he offers scientific guidance and expertise, while not engaging in the decision-making processes or operational duties of either company. All other topic editors declare no competing interests regarding the subject of this Research Topic.
Keywords:
stem cells, metabolism, mitochondria, autophagy, TOR, AMPK, lysosomes
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.
Both intrinsic and extrinsic cues regulate stem cell behavior. Throughout the past several decades, multiple conserved signaling pathways have been shown to control different aspects of stem cell dynamics, including the choice between self-renewal and differentiation. Recently, it has been realized that changes in metabolism can also influence stem cell behavior, adding another layer of regulation. Rather than being simply passive cues, changes in the metabolic requirements of stem and niche cells can influence how the stem cell niche behaves in homeostatic and pathophysiological conditions. The elucidation of how metabolism impacts the maintenance, fate, and activity of stem cells could have major biomedical benefits, opening doors to the development of novel therapies aiming to preserve and/or reverse the detrimental effects of metabolic disorders in tissue and organ function.
Metabolic organelles (such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes), as well as metabolic pathways and processes, such as autophagy, TOR, AMPK, and many others, can influence stem cell behavior and fate. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which these metabolic regulators influence stem cells remain elusive. This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of how metabolic changes lead to altered stem cell behavior during homeostasis and pathophysiological conditions. Original research and review articles focusing on how changes observed in age, stress, pathology, and other conditions affect tissue regeneration and stem cell function are highly encouraged. The detailed investigation of how processes controlled by metabolism (such as energy generation, metabolite availability, secondary messenger signaling, epigenetic changes, etc.) mechanistically impact stem cells is also encouraged.
The topic editors welcome various article types (including Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and (Mini-) Reviews) focusing on, but not limited to, the following subthemes:
• The mechanisms behind the metabolic control of stem cells
• Correlation versus causation between metabolism and stem cell fate
• Intrinsic (cell-autonomous) vs systemic metabolic regulation of stem cells
• The role of metabolic organelles in stem cell fate
• Pathophysiological changes in metabolism and their impact on stem cells.
Topic editor, Andrés Caicedo, is the scientific founder and advisor of Dragon Biomed, an entrepreneurial initiative at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). He also serves as a scientific advisor in the Research and Development department of Luvigix. In these capacities, he offers scientific guidance and expertise, while not engaging in the decision-making processes or operational duties of either company. All other topic editors declare no competing interests regarding the subject of this Research Topic.
Keywords:
stem cells, metabolism, mitochondria, autophagy, TOR, AMPK, lysosomes
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.