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Medical · Stem Cell

Adult Stem Cell

Also known as: somatic stem cell, tissue-specific stem cell, 성체줄기세포

Published 2026-09-14Updated 2026-09-14
Definition

Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in developed tissues that can renew themselves and produce some of the specialized cell types of that tissue.

Quick answer

What is an adult stem cell?

An adult stem cell is an undifferentiated cell found in developed tissue that can renew itself and produce specialized cells of that tissue. Examples include hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow and mesenchymal stromal cells in fat. They are generally multipotent rather than pluripotent, and their best-established therapeutic use is blood-forming stem cell transplantation.

Verified 2026-09-14

Key facts

PredicateValueSource
PotencyGenerally multipotent: differentiate into a limited range of cell types of their tissue[1]
Established clinical useHematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood and immune disorders[1]

Overview

Adult (tissue-specific or somatic) stem cells exist in tissues such as bone marrow, fat and skin. Unlike embryonic stem cells they are generally multipotent rather than pluripotent. Hematopoietic stem cells are the most established therapeutic example; mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow or adipose tissue are widely studied but most uses remain investigational.

References

Independent source ratio 100% (1/1)
  1. Level A · governmentStem Cell Basics — National Institutes of Health (NIH) · accessed 2026-09-14
Change history
Initial publication · 2026-09-14