Many tissues and organ systems have intrinsic regeneration capabilities that are largely driven and maintained by tissue-resident stem cell populations. In recent years, growing evidence has demonstrated that cellular metabolic homeostasis plays a central role in mediating stem cell fate, tissue regeneration, and homeostasis. Thus, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that regulate metabolic homeostasis in stem cells may contribute to our knowledge on how tissue homeostasis is maintained and provide novel insights for disease management. In this review, we summarize the known relationship between the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and molecular pathways in stem cells. We also discuss potential targets of metabolic homeostasis in disease therapy and describe the current limitations and future directions in the development of these novel therapeutic targets.
Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Homeostasis/physiology* ; Cell Differentiation/physiology*

Melanoblasts, the precursors to melanocytes, originate in the neural crest. Some melanoblasts can travel to the hair follicle and further differentiate into pigment melanin-producing melanocytes. Hair follicles contain a pool of undifferentiated melanocyte stem cells (MSCs), which are sources of differentiated melanocytes, and functional melanocytes exhist in the hair bulb. The volume, life, and activity of melanocytes in a hair follicle is closely related with the growth cycle of follicle. Appearance of gray hair gray results from incomplete MSCs maintenance.
Aging ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; physiology ; Stem Cells ; physiology

The autonomic nervous system controls various internal organs and executes crucial functions through sophisticated neural connectivity and circuits. Its dysfunction causes an imbalance of homeostasis and numerous human disorders. In the past decades, great efforts have been made to study the structure and functions of this system, but so far, our understanding of the classification of autonomic neuronal subpopulations remains limited and a precise map of their connectivity has not been achieved. One of the major challenges that hinder rapid progress in these areas is the complexity and heterogeneity of autonomic neurons. To facilitate the identification of neuronal subgroups in the autonomic nervous system, here we review the well-established and cutting-edge technologies that are frequently used in peripheral neuronal tracing and profiling, and discuss their operating mechanisms, advantages, and targeted applications.
Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Lineage ; physiology ; Homeostasis ; physiology ; Humans ; Nervous System ; growth & development ; Neurons ; physiology

Stem cells are a kind of specialized cell type with the ability of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential. They can proliferate and differentiate into many other cell types under a specific condition. However, proliferation and differentiation behaviors of stem cells depend on their located microenvironment, which is also named stem cell niche. An appropriate spatiotemporal dialog occurs between stem cells and niche to fulfill the balance of their self-renewal and differentiation. This review focused on several different stem cell niches and their relationship with proliferation and differentiation of stem cells.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Stem Cell Niche ; physiology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of calcium ion (Ca²⁺) on the migration and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblasts and explore the proper concentration and correlation mechanism. METHODS: A series of Ca²⁺ solutions with different concentrations was prepared. Osteoblast migration was assessed by Transwell assay, and proliferation was studied via the CCK-8 colorimetric assay. The mRNA expression of osteogenic genes was examined via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the mineralized nodule was examined by alizarin red-S method. After calcium sensitive receptor (CaSR) antagonism, Ca²⁺-induced migration and osteogenic differentiation were analyzed. RESULTS: In the migration experiment, 2, 4, and 6 mmol·L⁻¹ Ca²⁺ could promoted osteoblast migration at three timepoints (8, 16, and 24 h), whereas 10 mmol·L⁻¹ Ca²⁺ considerably inhibited migration at 8 h. The Ca²⁺ concentration range of 2-10 mmol·L⁻¹ could promote proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization of human osteoblasts. Moreover, mineralization was predominantly induced by 8 and 10 mmol·L⁻¹ Ca²⁺. CaSR antagonism could reduce Ca²⁺-induced migration and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS Low Ca²⁺ concentration favored osteoblast migration, whereas high Ca²⁺ concentration favored osteogenic differentiation. The Ca²⁺ concentrations of 4 and 6 mmol·L⁻¹ could substantially induce osteoblast migration and osteogenic differentiation, and the Ca²⁺-CaSR pathway participated in signal transduction.
Calcium ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Cell Differentiation ; Nicotine/pharmacology* ; Osteogenesis/physiology* ; Periodontal Ligament ; Stem Cells

Tendinopathies are chronic diseases of an unknown etiology and associated with inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a viable therapeutic option to combat the pathological progression of tendinopathies, not only because of their potential for multidirectional differentiation and self-renewal, but also their excellent immunomodulatory properties. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs are increasingly being recognized as playing a crucial role in the treatment of tendinopathies, with MSCs being pivotal in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment by modulating the immune response, ultimately contributing to improved tissue repair. This review will discuss the current knowledge regarding the application of MSCs in tendinopathy treatments through the modulation of the immune response.
Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/physiology* ; Inflammation ; Cell Differentiation

During mammalian development, migration, proliferation and survival of primordial germ cells can give rise to germ stem cells. There are evidences that stem cells also exist in adult gonad, and can maintain the renewal of germ cells and decelerate aging process. Therefore, germ stem cells play a pivotal role in rejuvenation of adult tissues as well as regeneration of damaged organs. Such cells have provided a potential resource for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; physiology

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of 21-25 nucleotide small nonprotein-coding RNAs. They regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level by mRNA degradation or translation repression. Hematopoiesis is one of the most important highly regulated multistage process, which includes orderly turn-on and turn-off of many genes; any wrong modulation may result in blood diseases. Several miRNAs have been found to be involved in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic tumor genesis.
Blood Cells ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Hematopoiesis ; physiology ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; physiology

Sweat gland is one of the important appendage organs of the skin, which plays an important role in thermoregulation and homeostasis maintenance. Sweat glands are damaged and unable to self-repair after burns, resulting in perspiration disorders eventually. However, current clinical strategies cannot restore the function of the damaged sweat glands effectively. Therefore, it is urgent to seek treatments that can promote the regeneration of sweat glands and restore their normal functions. Stem cells have extensive sources, low immunogenicity, high proliferation capacity, and multi-directional differentiation potential, which have become a focus in the field of regenerative medicine. In recent years, a variety of stem cells have been induced to differentiate into sweat gland-like tissue with certain secretory function, which provides treatment direction for sweat gland regeneration after burns in clinic. This article reviews the recent research advances on the application of stem cells in sweat gland regeneration from the perspectives of the manner by which stem cells transform into sweat gland cells in different environments and their influencing factors.
Cell Differentiation/physiology* ; Regeneration/physiology* ; Skin ; Stem Cells ; Sweat Glands/physiology*