Metabolic Peculiarities of the Stem Cell Entity: Energetic Metabolism and Oxidative Status

Dear Colleagues,

Somatic stem cells reside in low oxygenated niches exhibiting two crucial patterns: self-renewal and multipotency. This implies that adult stem cells should possess an energetic pattern that ensures quantitatively and qualitatively two opposite demands: quiescence (slow cycling) and self-renewal in low oxygenated niches or lineage specification toward more energy requiring progenitors. For this reason, adult stem cells should exhibit huge metabolic plasticity that enables energetic reprogramming based on the functional demands. Although relying heavily on anaerobic glycolysis, stem cell-enriched populations have functional mitochondria needed for their maintenance. Additionally, the metabolism of stem cells is adapted and equipped to keep ROS production and oxidative stress at a minimal but still sufficient level to ensure ROS’s physiological role as a signaling molecule and in protection against reductive stress. Finally, metabolic pattern arbitrates epigenetic program in control of stem cell behavior. The way by which energetic homeostasis is accomplished and nutrient-sensing and energetic pathways are regulated depend on stem cell type, its function and location.

This Special Issue on stem cells metabolism is dedicated to highlight singularities about stem metabolism in physiological as well as pathological condition, including fundamental and applicative aspects in the field of cellular engineering and tissue repair.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Marija Vlaški
Guest Editor

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• stem cells
• glycolysis
• respiration
• oxidative phosphorylation
• bioenergetics
• metabolism
• oxygen
• oxidative stress