Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic reprogramming has been observed in the tissue cells of elderly subjects, cancer patients, and patients with several metabolic diseases. This phenomenon plays an important role in the cellular adaptation to metabolic defects associated with gene mutations or altered gene expression causing cancer and diseases. Such metabolic changes may confer cancer cells the advantage to proliferate, metastasize, and develop resistance to various cancer drugs. On the other hand, metabolic reprogramming may allow tissue cells to survive under the oxidative stress elicited by biochemical defects due to a pathogenic gene mutation. Gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these biochemical changes will help scientists and clinicians unravel the pathophysiology of diseases and develop new drugs or strategies to treat or manage these health conditions more effectively.

This special issue aims to explore the intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and stem cell plasticity, with a focus on how metabolic reprogramming influences stem cell differentiation and the function of mature cells. Key topics will include the molecular mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism during stem cell differentiation, particularly in the context of induced pluripotent stem cells, and how these metabolic shifts impact stem cell behavior and function.

Additionally, the issue will examine how cellular responses to oxidative stress influence stem cell fate decisions, specifically in diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Topics could encompass the metabolic changes in stem cells under oxidative stress, and how these reprogramming events can lead to altered stem cell behavior, disease progression, and therapeutic outcomes. Investigating these processes in the context of diseases such as cancer, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic diseases, where mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are prominent, will provide us a comprehensive understanding of how metabolic reprogramming can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.

This special issue will bring together research that highlights the importance of metabolic reprogramming in stem cell biology and elucidates the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of diseases associated with metabolic defects. Moreover, we expect that the advances in these fields of research will provide insights that may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for a variety of health conditions.

Prof. Yau-Huei Wei
Guest Editor