In recent years, great strides have been made in our understanding of how stem cells (SCs) govern tissue homeostasis and regeneration. The inherent longevity of SCs raises the possibility that the unique protective mechanisms in these cells might also be involved in tumorigenesis. In this Opinion article, we discuss how SCs are protected throughout their lifespan, focusing on quiescent behaviour, DNA damage response and programmed cell death. We briefly examine the roles of adult SCs and progenitors in tissue repair and tumorigenesis and explore how signals released from dying or dormant cells influence the function of healthy or aberrant SCs. Important insight into the mechanisms that regulate SC death and survival, as well as the 'legacy' imparted by departing cells, may unlock novel avenues for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

近年来，在我们对干细胞（SCs）如何控制组织动态平衡和再生的理解方面取得了长足的进步。SC的固有寿命延长了这些细胞中独特的保护机制也可能参与肿瘤发生的可能性。在这篇观点文章中，我们讨论了在整个生命周期中如何保护SC，重点是静态行为，DNA损伤反应和程序性细胞死亡。我们简要检查了成年SC和祖细胞在组织修复和肿瘤发生中的作用，并探讨了垂死细胞或休眠细胞释放的信号如何影响健康或异常SC的功能。对调节SC死亡和存活的机制以及离体细胞赋予的“传统”的重要见解，可能会为再生医学和癌症治疗开辟新的途径。