Anabolism-Associated Mitochondrial Stasis Driving Lymphocyte Differentiation over Self-Renewal

Cell Rep. 2016 Dec 20;17(12):3142-3152. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.065.

Abstract

Regeneration requires related cells to diverge in fate. We show that activated lymphocytes yield sibling cells with unequal elimination of aged mitochondria. Disparate mitochondrial clearance impacts cell fate and reflects larger constellations of opposing metabolic states. Differentiation driven by an anabolic constellation of PI3K/mTOR activation, aerobic glycolysis, inhibited autophagy, mitochondrial stasis, and ROS production is balanced with self-renewal maintained by a catabolic constellation of AMPK activation, mitochondrial elimination, oxidative metabolism, and maintenance of FoxO1 activity. Perturbations up and down the metabolic pathways shift the balance of nutritive constellations and cell fate owing to self-reinforcement and reciprocal inhibition between anabolism and catabolism. Cell fate and metabolic state are linked by transcriptional regulators, such as IRF4 and FoxO1, with dual roles in lineage and metabolic choice. Instructing some cells to utilize nutrients for anabolism and differentiation while other cells catabolically self-digest and self-renew may enable growth and repair in metazoa.

Keywords: Pax5; TCF1; Warburg effect; asymmetric cell division; self-renewal; stem cell.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / genetics*
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / metabolism
  • Glycolysis
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / genetics*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics*
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Metabolism / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Regeneration / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • interferon regulatory factor-4
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases