Dietary and Metabolic Control of Stem Cell Function in Physiology and Cancer

Organismal diet has a profound impact on tissue homeostasis and health in mammals. Adult stem cells are a keystone of tissue homeostasis that alters tissue composition by balancing self-renewal and differentiation divisions. Because somatic stem cells may respond to shifts in organismal physiology to orchestrate tissue remodeling and some cancers are understood to arise from transformed stem cells, there is a likely possibility that organismal diet, stem cell function, and cancer initiation are interconnected. Here we will explore the emerging effects of diet on nutrient-sensing pathways active in mammalian tissue stem cells and their relevance to normal and cancerous growth.