Stem cells, DNA damage, ageing and cancer

A comprehensive knowledge of adult stem cells not only sheds light on their significant roles in many fundamental biological process, but also on their implications in a variety of deleterious disorders including leukemia, lymphoma, ageing and other relevant degenerative disorders. Elucidating the diverse signaling pathways in stem cells paves the way for development of targeted therapeutic approaches against degenerative disorders. Despite emerging studies, our understanding of the key molecular machineries that profoundly influence key stem cell properties is poor. This review discusses the seminal aspects of stem cell self-renewal mechanisms with an emphasis on various influencing factors, including DNA damage, and intrinsic and extrinsic factors that govern the significant characteristics of tissue stem cells under normal and stress conditions. Also outlined are intriguing aspects of how molecular interventions in key stem cell pathways could be exploited to develop novel therapies against stem cell disorders.