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Nutrient-sensing pathways in adult stem cells: Orchestrating homeostasis, aging, and disease
Tianxiong Xiao1, Zhiyao Xie2, Lijun Yao3
1Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
Abstract:
Nutrient-sensing pathways, including mTOR, AMPK, Sirtuins, and insulin/IGF-1 signaling, are central regulators orchestrating adult stem cell (ASC) fate by dynamically modulating cellular metabolism. This review proposes a framework that integrates these pathways into a cohesive network that dictates the metabolic transitions between quiescence, activation, and differentiation in ASCs. Age-related dysregulation of this network leads to metabolic imbalance and stem cell exhaustion, underpinning tissue degeneration. Interventions such as mTOR inhibitors, AMPK activators, NAD+ precursors, and dietary strategies can rejuvenate ASC function by restoring metabolic balance, underscoring their therapeutic potential for mitigating aging and associated diseases.
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