Open AccessAwaking stem cells from dormancy: growing old and fighting cancer
Author(s) -
Viale Andrea,
Pelicci Pier G.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.1002/emmm.200900019
Subject(s) - stem cell , dormancy , haematopoiesis , biology , progenitor cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer stem cell , function (biology) , cell division , cancer research , cell , genetics , botany , germination
It is generally accepted that a distinguishing property of stem cells (SCs), as compared to their more differentiated progenitors, is that of infrequent division, often referred to as ‘quiescence’. As regards hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), their resistance to antiproliferative drugs supports this notion. Maintenance of quiescence is thought to be critical for the preservation of HSCs' function.