Functions of mitochondrial metabolism in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic malignancies

Mitochondria play crucial roles as metabolic hubs and signal-transduction platforms part in a series of vital cellular activities. Although the fundamental biological activities of mitochondria and their pivotal roles in solid tumors have received sufficient coverage, a thorough synthesis of their contributions to normal blood cell formation and blood-related cancers is less discussed. In normal hematopoiesis, mitochondria sustain hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation by modulating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and providing energy through oxidative phosphorylation, while also governing iron metabolism for erythropoiesis. Hematological malignancies exhibit mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming characterized by the Warburg effect, glutamine dependency, and altered lipid metabolism, and these changes are driven by oncogenic signals that recalibrate the glycolytic-oxidative balance. This review systematically delineates the mitochondrial mechanisms involved in physiological hematopoiesis and pathological transformation, highlighting their potential to serve as therapeutic targets for blood cancers.