The Role of Mitochondria in Stem Cell Biology (original) (raw)

Mitochondria: A Key Player in Stem Cell Fate

Cell Biology, 2015

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that undergo cycles of fusion and fission important for their function, maintenance, and quality control as well as direct or indirect role in different types of stem cells fate decisions. Stem cells have potential for numerous biomedical applications; however the major bottle neck in stem cell field is the stem cell differentiation and maintenance of stemness of stem cells. The regulatory factor involved in stem cell fate decision and stem cell development is not clear. Recent report suggests that mitochondria also play a role in maintenance of pluripotency and cell fate decision. This review mainly cover the role of mitochondria, reactive oxygen species and change in mitochondria structure and functions during cell fate decision in different types of major group of stem cells. This article is a part of special issue on Mitochondria.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transfer Mitochondria to the Cells with Virtually No Mitochondrial Function but Not with Pathogenic mtDNA Mutations

PloS one, 2012

It has been reported that human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can transfer mitochondria to the cells with severely compromised mitochondrial function. We tested whether the reported intercellular mitochondrial transfer could be replicated in different types of cells or under different experimental conditions, and tried to elucidate possible mechanism. Using biochemical selection methods, we found exponentially growing cells in restrictive media (uridine(-) and bromodeoxyuridine [BrdU](+)) during the coculture of MSCs (uridine-independent and BrdU-sensitive) and 143B-derived cells with severe mitochondrial dysfunction induced by either long-term ethidium bromide treatment or short-term rhodamine 6G (R6G) treatment (uridine-dependent but BrdU-resistant). The exponentially growing cells had nuclear DNA fingerprint patterns identical to 143B, and a sequence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) identical to the MSCs. Since R6G causes rapid and irreversible damage to mitochondria without the remo...

Connecting mitochondria, metabolism and stem cell fate

Stem Cells and Development, 2015

As sites of cellular respiration and energy production, mitochondria play a central role in cell metabolism. Cell differentiation is associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and activity and with a metabolic shift toward increased oxidative phosphorylation activity. The opposite occurs during reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. Studies have provided evidence of mitochondrial and metabolic changes during the differentiation of both embryonic and somatic (or adult) stem cells (SSCs), such as hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and tissue-specific progenitor cells. We thus propose to consider those mitochondrial and metabolic changes as hallmarks of differentiation processes. We review how mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and function are directly involved in embryonic and SSC differentiation and how metabolic and sensing pathways connect mitochondria and metabolism with cell fate and pluripotency. Understanding the basis of the crosstalk between mitochondria and cell fate is of critical importance, given the promising application of stem cells in regenerative medicine. In addition to the development of novel strategies to improve the in vitro lineage-directed differentiation of stem cells, understanding the molecular basis of this interplay could lead to the identification of novel targets to improve the treatment of degenerative diseases. 2 WANET ET AL.

Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models in Mitochondrial Diseases

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2014

Mitochondrial diseases are clinical phenotypes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which can be caused by mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or of nuclear genes. Since there are no high-performance transfect systems yet to make particular mtDNA mutation, and tissue sources are limited by ethical issue and injury, the molecular pathogenesis of mitochondrial diseases remains poorly understood. The generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from adult somatic cells has opened a remarkable avenue for theoretic study and therapeutic application. Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated cells derived from them are attracting increasing attention to elucidate the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial diseases. In this review, we summarize the advances of iPS cells, advantages of patient- specific iPS cells as a novel disease model, especially in mitochondrial disease. Occurring challenges and perspectives of patient-specific iPS cells research are also discussed.

Upregulation of mitochondrial function and antioxidant defense in the differentiation of stem cells

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 2010

Stem cell research has received increasing attention due to their invaluable potentials in the clinical applications to cure degenerative diseases, genetic disorders and even cancers. A great number of studies have been conducted with an aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of selfrenewal of stem cells and the mysterious circuits guiding them to differentiate into all kinds of progenies that can replenish the cell pools. However, little effort has been made in studying the metabolic aspects of stem cells. Mitochondria play essential roles in mammalian cells in the generation of ATP, Ca 2+ homeostasis, compartmentalization of biosynthetic pathways and execution of apoptosis. Considering the metabolic roles of mitochondria, they must be also critical in stem cells. This review is primarily focused on the biogenesis and bioenergetic function of mitochondria in the differentiation process and metabolic features of stem cells. In addition, the involvement of reactive oxygen species and hypoxic signals in the regulation of stem cell pluripotency and differentiation is also discussed.

The role of mitochondria in stem cell fate and aging

Development (Cambridge, England), 2018

The importance of mitochondria in energy metabolism, signal transduction and aging in post-mitotic tissues has been well established. Recently, the crucial role of mitochondrial-linked signaling in stem cell function has come to light and the importance of mitochondria in mediating stem cell activity is becoming increasingly recognized. Despite the fact that many stem cells exhibit low mitochondrial content and a reliance on mitochondrial-independent glycolytic metabolism for energy, accumulating evidence has implicated the importance of mitochondrial function in stem cell activation, fate decisions and defense against senescence. In this Review, we discuss the recent advances that link mitochondrial metabolism, homeostasis, stress responses, and dynamics to stem cell function, particularly in the context of disease and aging. This Review will also highlight some recent progress in mitochondrial therapeutics that may present attractive strategies for improving stem cell function as ...

Induced pluripotent stem cells generated from diabetic patients with mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation

Diabetologia, 2012

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this study was to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from patients with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation. Methods Skin biopsies were obtained from two diabetic patients with mtDNA A3243G mutation. The fibroblasts thus obtained were infected with retroviruses encoding OCT4 (also known as POU5F1), SOX2, c-MYC (also known as MYC) and KLF4. The stem cell characteristics were investigated and the mtDNA mutation frequencies evaluated by Invader assay.