Nuclear receptors as regulators of stem cell and cancer stem cell metabolism

• Nuclear receptors (NRs) are key links between metabolism and cell fate decisions.
• ESRRB, DAX-1, LRH-1, TR4, NGF1-B, LXRb and RARs are NRs expressed in pluripotent embryonic stem cells.
• ESRRB, DAX-1 and LRH-1 are regulators of metabolism in embryonic stem cells.
• TR4, NGF1-B, LXRb and RARs are putative regulators of stemness.
• The discussed NRs play a role in tumor progression and might be metabolic regulators of cancer stem cells.

Cellular metabolism is underpinning physiological processes in all cells. These include housekeeping functions as well as specific activities unique to a particular cell type. A growing number of studies in various experimental models indicate that metabolism is tightly connected to embryonic development as well. It is also emerging that metabolic processes have regulatory roles and by changing metabolism, cellular processes and even fates can be influenced. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are transcription factors, responding to changes in metabolites and are implicated in diverse biological processes such as embryonic development, differentiation, metabolism and cancer. Therefore, NRs are key links between metabolism and cell fate decisions. In this review, we introduce ESRRβ, DAX-1 and LRH-1 as putative regulators of metabolism in pluripotent embryonic stem cells. We also discuss the role of TR4, NGF1β, LXRβ and RARs in stemness. In addition, we summarize our current understanding of the potential roles of NRs in cancer stem cells.