Li WH, Yuan XY, Wang Z, Lin R. Nutrient sensing in intestinal stem cell: Linking dietary nutrients to cellular metabolic regulation. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(7): 107770 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i7.107770]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Rong Lin, Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. 2009xh0877@hust.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Stem Cells. Jul 26, 2025; 17(7): 107770 Published online Jul 26, 2025. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i7.107770
Nutrient sensing in intestinal stem cell: Linking dietary nutrients to cellular metabolic regulation
Wen-Hao Li, Xin-Yi Yuan, Zhe Wang, Rong Lin
Wen-Hao Li, Xin-Yi Yuan, Zhe Wang, Rong Lin, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Rong Lin, Hubei Province Engineering Research Center for Minimally Invasive Therapy of Digestive Disorders, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Co-first authors: Wen-Hao Li and Xin-Yi Yuan.
Co-corresponding authors: Zhe Wang and Rong Lin.
Author contributions: Li WH and Yuan XY wrote the manuscript, they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors of this article; Wang Z designed the study; Lin R revised and approved the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, No. 2022YFF1203300; National Key Research and Development Program, No. 2023YFC2307001; and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No. 2023TQ0125 and No. 2024M751031.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Rong Lin, Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. 2009xh0877@hust.edu.cn
Received: March 31, 2025 Revised: May 6, 2025 Accepted: July 3, 2025 Published online: July 26, 2025 Processing time: 118 Days and 0.1 Hours
Abstract
Diet and nutrition significantly influence health, largely by regulating intestinal nutrient absorption. The intestinal epithelium, as the primary site for nutrient uptake, undergoes continuous renewal driven by precise regulation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Nutrient sensing and metabolism are key determinants of ISC fate, making ISCs a central link between nutrient metabolism and the regulation of intestinal tissue renewal and homeostasis. Understanding how ISCs respond or make adaptations to nutritional signals is therefore vital for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Recent studies have spotlighted the origin and identity of ISCs and broadened our insight into the plasticity and function of ISCs under different conditions. Mitochondria, the central hubs of energy production and metabolic signals provided by dietary components and metabolic substrates, such as glucose, amino acids, and lipids, govern the intricate balance between self-renewal and differentiation of ISCs. This review highlights the importance of nutrient sensing, metabolic regulation, and mitochondrial function in the specification of ISC fate. A thorough understanding of these mechanisms paves the way for the development of stem cell-based therapy for the mucosal healing of gastrointestinal diseases and diet intervention to foster body health.
Core Tip: Diet and nutrition play a critical role in health by regulating intestinal nutrient absorption, with intestinal stem cells serving as the central link between nutrient metabolism and intestinal tissue renewal. Nutrient sensing, metabolic regulation, and mitochondrial function are key determinants of intestinal stem cell fate, balancing self-renewal and differentiation. Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into stem cell-based therapies for gastrointestinal diseases and dietary interventions to promote health.
