"A very recent literature claims that metabolic status represents a crucial regulatory mechanism that helps direct stem cells fate. Whereas mainly described on the well characterized hematopoietic stem cells population, such metabolic investigations have been poorly conducted on another key population of adult immature cells that populate the stromal compartment of all tissues, i.e. the mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC). Among them, adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC) have been defined both as multipotent precursors and as supporting cells through their high secretory and immunomodulatory properties. These ASC hallmarks explain their potent regenerative capacities and have prompted clinical studies on their therapeutic potential. However, the mechanisms that govern their plasticity and fate as well as their interactions with other cell populations still remain to be unravelled. Along with ASC, adipose tissue harbours other immature populations whose biology is poorly described. The main objective of this METABOSTEM project is to investigate the role of metabolism in the intrinsic biology and fate of immature stromal populations residing within adipose tissue. Based on neuron-astrocyte and cancer cells models, we hypothesize that supporting cells such as ASC control the surrounding immature populations through a metabolic coupling, representing a new and primitive mechanism by which stromal compartment could control stem cells biology within the niche. This interdisciplinary project will integrate different scientific fields and techniques together such as in situ analysis, metabolic characterisation and stem cell biology, using murine adipose tissue as a working model. The METABOSTEM proposal will hopefully help at a better understanding of the biology of immature stromal cells from adipose tissue, both in physiological and regenerative conditions, and will have larger consequences on the way to manipulate and expand them."