The paradox of metabolism in quiescent stem cells

Abstract

The shift between a proliferating and a nonproliferating state is associated with significant changes in metabolic needs. Proliferating cells tend to have higher metabolic rates, and their metabolic profiles facilitate biosynthesis, as compared to those of nondividing cells of the same sort. Recent studies have elucidated specific molecules that control metabolic changes while cells shift between proliferation and quiescence. Embryonic stem cells, which are rapidly proliferating, tend to have metabolic patterns that are similar to those of nonstem cells in a proliferative state. Moreover, although adult stem cells tend to be quiescent, their metabolic profiles have been reported in multiple organs to more closely resemble those of proliferating than those of nondividing cells in some respects. The findings raise questions about whether there are metabolic profiles that are required for stemness, and whether these profiles relate to the metabolic properties that may be required for quiescence. Here, we review the literature on how metabolism changes upon commitment to proliferation and compare the proliferating and nonproliferating metabolic states of differentiated cells and embryonic and adult stem cells.

Metabolic Coordination of Pericyte Phenotypes: Therapeutic Implications

“…Furthermore, glycolysis limits cellular reliance on oxygen and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Chen et al, 2008;Suda et al, 2011), which in turn play a critical role in the differentiation of stem cell into various cell populations (adipocytes, osteocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes) (Boopathy et al, 2013;Higuchi et al, 2013;Mateos et al, 2013). Accordingly, stem cell differentiation is usually associated with upregulation of mitochondrial capacity and a substantially higher use of OXPHOS (Funes et al, 2007;Coller, 2019), which leads to increased levels of ROS. Thus, modulating the glycolytic metabolism of pericytes may not only influence the switch from a quiescent to proliferative state but may also be centrally involved in maintaining the stemness of pericytes.…”

Defining compartmentalized stem and progenitor populations with distinct cell division frequency in the ocular surface epithelium

“…Slc1a3 also mediates tumor growth by exchanging glutamate and aspartate between squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts in stiff environment (Bertero, et al, 2019). Given that proliferative heterogeneity of SCs is highly correlated with metabolic regulation (Coller, 2019;Coloff, et al, 2016), it will be interesting to address the roles of Slc1a3 and amino acid metabolism in SCs and their niches of ocular surface epithelium.…”

Adult Muscle Stem Cell Self-Renewal Induced by Endurance Exercise is Mediated by Inhibition of Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption

“…Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration is often accompanied by a shift toward glucose fermentation to lactate. Indeed, many cells, when more quiescent, are more fermentative (Coller, 2019). However, extracellular acidification rates (ECAR, Fig 5I-J) in exercised cells were significantly decreased in exercised cells, suggesting that they indeed have lower ATP production, and not a shift toward acid-generating lactate formation.…”