Regulation of Adult Stem Cell Quiescence and Its Functions in the Maintenance of Tissue Integrity

This review underscores the essential role of quiescent adult stem cells in preserving tissue integrity and facilitating regeneration in mammalian tissues. It highlights the necessity of maintaining a functional pool of quiescent stem cells, such as haematopoietic, skeletal muscle, neural, hair follicle, and mesenchymal stem cells, for effective tissue maintenance and repair. The review delves into the molecular mechanisms that regulate the quiescent state, with a focus on post-transcriptional processes like alternative polyadenylation, splicing, and translation repression. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for the advancement of regenerative medicine, as they are key to guiding stem cell function during both homeostasis and regeneration.