Zeng Jiawei, Liu Xiaohao, Bi Jiaming, Mo Chuzi, Zhang Han, Chai Yan, Lin Yunhe, Li Siwei, Liu Zhongjun, Yao Mingyan, Xu Shuaimei, Yuan Peiyan
Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Periodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2025 Sep 5. doi: 10.1007/s12015-025-10967-9.
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.
干细胞是具有自我更新和多向分化潜能的未分化细胞。胚胎干细胞和成体干细胞执行多种功能，包括细胞增殖、静止和多向分化。对干细胞生理和病理机制的研究对于阐明疾病发生、治疗和进展的过程以及细胞的治疗和生理功能至关重要。细胞代谢，包括葡萄糖、脂质和氨基酸代谢，在生物体中发挥着多样且相互交叉的作用。氨基酸参与多种人体代谢反应。在干细胞中，氨基酸代谢反应对于维持细胞增殖、影响细胞分化以及促进葡萄糖和脂质代谢至关重要。因此，研究氨基酸代谢在干细胞中的作用，有助于我们进一步了解疾病的发生、发展和治疗，以及改进实验室干细胞培养。尽管不同氨基酸在不同干细胞中发挥着不同或相似的作用，但研究人员仅探索了其中一些潜在机制；因此，我们对氨基酸代谢潜在机制的理解仍存在空白。本综述分析并总结了氨基酸代谢在干细胞功能中的调节作用及其潜在分子机制，为未来改进干细胞培养和疾病治疗提供见解。
