Mitochondrial Dynamics: Biogenesis, Fission, Fusion, and Mitophagy in the Regulation of Stem Cell Behaviors

Figure 2

Modulating mitochondrial dynamics impacts on stem cell behaviors. Blockades of mitochondrial dynamics, fission (blue), fusion (orange), mitophagy (red), and biogenesis (green), affect stem cell differentiation, self-renewal, apoptosis, differentiation, and reprogramming. Downregulation of mito-fission usually leads to impaired self-renewal and the loss of stemness in stem cells, while increasing differentiation. Stem cells are often protected from apoptosis. Fission blockade also decreases the reprogramming efficiency. Downregulation of mito-fusion impairs stem cell self-renewal and may have diverse effects on stem cell differentiation. In general, mito-fusion protects stem cells from apoptosis, and the mito-fusion blockade often results in increased vulnerability to stress. Downregulation of mito-fusion improves the reprogramming efficiency. The blockade of mitophagy also impairs stem cell self-renewal as well as decreases reprogramming efficiency. The function of mitophagy in stem cell differentiation has not been understood clearly enough and may be stem cell type-specific and lineage-specific. Mitochondrial biogenesis is generally pivotal for stem cell maintenance. Downregulation of biogenesis impairs stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. More detailed information on stem cell behaviors and their regulation by mitochondrial dynamics are listed in Table 1.