Cardiosphere-Derived Cells Demonstrate Metabolic Flexibility That Is Influenced by Adhesion Status

• Main Authors: Junaid Afzal, MBBS, MS, Angel Chan, MD PhD, Mehmet Fatih Karakas, MD, Kirubel Woldemichael, BS, Styliani Vakrou, MD, Yufan Guan, MD, Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD, Richard Wahl, MD, Martin Pomper, MD, PhD, D. Brian Foster, PhD, Miguel A. Aon, PhD, Benjamin Tsui, PhD, Brian O’Rourke, PhD, M. Roselle Abraham, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-10-01
• Series: JACC: Basic to Translational Science
• Subjects: cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs); glycolysis; metabolism; oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos); sodium-iodide symporter (NIS); SPECT imaging
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452302X1730219X

Adult stem cells demonstrate metabolic flexibility that is regulated by cell adhesion status. The authors demonstrate that adherent cells primarily utilize glycolysis, whereas suspended cells rely on oxidative phosphorylation for their ATP needs. Akt phosphorylation transduces adhesion-mediated regulation of energy metabolism, by regulating translocation of glucose transporters (GLUT1) to the cell membrane and thus, cellular glucose uptake and glycolysis. Cell dissociation, a pre-requisite for cell transplantation, leads to energetic stress, which is mediated by Akt dephosphorylation, downregulation of glucose uptake, and glycolysis. They designed hydrogels that promote rapid cell adhesion of encapsulated cells, Akt phosphorylation, restore glycolysis, and cellular ATP levels.