Abstract
The maintenance of cellular identity requires continuous adaptation to environmental changes. This process is particularly critical for stem cells, which need to preserve their differentiation potential over time. Among the mechanisms responsible for regulating cellular homeostatic responses, mitochondria are emerging as key players. Given their dynamic and multifaceted role in energy metabolism, redox, and calcium balance, as well as cell death, mitochondria appear at the interface between environmental cues and the control of epigenetic identity. In this review, we describe how mitochondria have been implicated in the processes of acquisition and loss of stemness, with a specific focus on pluripotency. Dissecting the biological functions of mitochondria in stem cell homeostasis and differentiation will provide essential knowledge to understand the dynamics of cell fate modulation, and to establish improved stem cell‐based medical applications.
EMBO Reports (2018) e45432
- Received November 3, 2017.
- Revision received December 22, 2017.
- Accepted March 21, 2018.
- © 2018 The Authors
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Article
- Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics in stem cell homeostasis
- Mitochondrial control of redox and calcium balance in stem cell homeostasis
- Mitochondrial metabolism–epigenetics crosstalk in stem cell homeostasis
- Concluding remarks
- Conflict of interest
- Acknowledgements
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Transparent Process