Nutrient-sensing pathways in adult stem cells: Orchestrating homeostasis, aging, and disease

Xiao T, Xie Z, Yao L, Zhao K, Zeng YA, Hu C · 2026 · Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology · Atlas ID XIA2026

What this study shows

Proposes an integrated framework in which mTOR, AMPK, sirtuins, and insulin/IGF-1 signaling jointly govern adult stem cell transitions between quiescence, activation, and differentiation; age-related dysregulation of this nutrient-sensing network drives stem cell exhaustion and tissue degeneration, and interventions (mTOR inhibitors, AMPK activators, NAD+ precursors, dietary strategies) can restore ASC function.

Abstract

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Nutrient-sensing pathways, including mTOR, AMPK, Sirtuins, and insulin/IGF-1 signaling, are central regulators orchestrating adult stem cell (ASC) fate by dynamically modulating cellular metabolism. This review proposes a framework that integrates these pathways into a cohesive network that dictates the metabolic transitions between quiescence, activation, and differentiation in ASCs. Age-related dysregulation of this network leads to metabolic imbalance and stem cell exhaustion, underpinning tissue degeneration.

Read the full abstract on PubMed →

At a glance

Evidence type	R Review — secondary literature, not a new result Marked R because it is a review or synthesis of existing evidence rather than a new primary result; that is a different form of writing, not a weaker one.
Study type	Narrative Review
Model system	Review (adult stem cells, multiple tissue systems)
Journal	Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
Year	2026
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-10-01
Source	DOI 10.1016/j.semcdb.2026.103690 · PMID 42546460

Extracted findings

These fields were extracted from the paper with AI assistance and have not been checked against the source. Read them as a pointer into the paper, not as curated claims; where they disagree with the curated summary above, the curated summary stands.

Intervention	N/A (review); discusses mTOR inhibitors, AMPK activators, NAD+ precursors, dietary strategies as ASC-rejuvenating interventions
Target	mTOR / AMPK / Sirtuins / IGF-1 nutrient-sensing network
Model	Review (multiple species/systems)
Effect	Integrated nutrient-sensing network governs adult stem cell quiescence/activation/differentiation; dysregulation drives stem cell exhaustion and aging

In the Atlas

Cite this paper

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Xiao, T., Xie, Z., Yao, L., Zhao, K., Zeng, Y. A., & Hu, C. (2026). Nutrient-sensing pathways in adult stem cells: Orchestrating homeostasis, aging, and disease. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2026.103690

@article{XIA2026,
  author       = {Xiao, T. and Xie, Z. and Yao, L. and Zhao, K. and Zeng, Y. A. and Hu, C.},
  title        = {{Nutrient-sensing pathways in adult stem cells: Orchestrating homeostasis, aging, and disease}},
  journal      = {Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2026.103690},
  note         = {PMID: 42546460},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record XIA2026) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/XIA2026/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_XIA2026,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record XIA2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/XIA2026/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}

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