Metabolic Control of Stem Cell Function: Insights into Amino Acid-Driven Mechanisms

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation potential. Embryonic and adult stem cells perform a variety of functions, including cell proliferation, quiescence, and multidirectional differentiation. Research into the physiological and pathological mechanisms of stem cells is important for elucidating the processes underlying the development, treatment, and progression of diseases, as well as the therapeutic and physiological functions of cells. Cellular metabolism, including glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, plays diverse and intersecting roles in living organisms. Amino acids are involved in several human metabolic reactions. In stem cells, amino acid metabolic reactions are of great importance for maintaining cell proliferation, affecting cell differentiation, and promoting glucose and lipid metabolism. Therefore, it is necessary to study the role of amino acid metabolism in stem cells to further our understanding of the occurrence, development, and treatment of diseases, as well as to improve laboratory stem cell culture. Although different amino acids play different or similar roles in different stem cells, researchers have been able to explore only some of their underlying mechanisms; hence, gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying amino acid metabolism. This review analyzes and summarizes the regulatory role of amino acid metabolism in stem cell function and its potential molecular mechanisms to provide insights for improving stem cell culture and disease treatments in the future.