Adult Stem Cell
Also known as: somatic stem cell, tissue-specific stem cell
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.
성체줄기세포란 무엇인가요?
성체줄기세포는 태어난 뒤 우리 몸의 여러 조직에 남아 있는 줄기세포입니다. 스스로 복제할 수 있고, 손상되거나 수명을 다한 세포를 대신할 그 조직의 세포로 분화합니다. 골수, 혈액, 지방, 피부, 장 점막 등에 있으며, 얻는 부위에 따라 혈액(조혈모)줄기세포, 지방줄기세포, 골수줄기세포 등으로 부릅니다. 배아줄기세포와 달리 만들 수 있는 세포 종류가 제한적입니다.
Key facts
| Predicate | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Rare undifferentiated cells within a differentiated tissue that can self-renew and have limited multipotency | [2]journalAdult Stem Cells in Tissue Maintenance and RegenerationStem Cells International (Montagnani, Rueger, Hosoda, Nurzynska) |
| Niche | A specialized microenvironment where supporting cells protect the stem cells and keep them quiescent until an activating signal arrives | [2]journalAdult Stem Cells in Tissue Maintenance and RegenerationStem Cells International (Montagnani, Rueger, Hosoda, Nurzynska) |
| Tissues where identified | Skin, liver, intestine, kidney, bone marrow, heart, lung, skeletal muscle, dental pulp and other dental tissues | [2]journalAdult Stem Cells in Tissue Maintenance and RegenerationStem Cells International (Montagnani, Rueger, Hosoda, Nurzynska) |
| Normal function | Divide to replace nearby old or dying cells, which helps maintain and repair tissueas of Nov 27, 2024 | [3]governmentWhat Are Stem Cells?National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH) |
| Most studied populations | Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from blood, bone marrow and adipose tissue, which are easy to access and isolate | [2]journalAdult Stem Cells in Tissue Maintenance and RegenerationStem Cells International (Montagnani, Rueger, Hosoda, Nurzynska) |
| Potency | Generally multipotent: differentiate into a limited range of cell types of their tissue | [1]governmentStem Cell BasicsNational Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| US regulatory status (FDA consumer alert) | FDA says the only approved stem cell products are cord-blood-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells for blood-system disorders. It calls many other marketed regenerative products unapproved and in some cases illegally marketedas of Apr 9, 2024 | [4]governmentConsumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and ExosomesU.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Established clinical use | Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood and immune disorders | [1]governmentStem Cell BasicsNational Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| First FDA-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapy | Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd, Mesoblast), approved 18 Dec 2024 for steroid-refractory acute GVHD in patients aged 2 months and older. Its cells come from the bone marrow of healthy adult donorsas of Dec 18, 2024 | [5]governmentFDA Approves First Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to Treat Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host DiseaseU.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Labeled risks (Ryoncil) | Hypersensitivity and acute infusion reactions, transmission of infectious disease, and ectopic tissue formationas of Dec 18, 2024 | [5]governmentFDA Approves First Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to Treat Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host DiseaseU.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Korean approval (autologous bone-marrow MSC) | The KFDA approved Hearticellgram-AMI (FCB Pharmicell) in July 2011 to improve left ventricular ejection fraction after reperfused acute myocardial infarction. It is autologous and must not be given to other patientsas of Jul 4, 2011 | [6]news에프씨비파미셀 줄기세포치료제 식약청 허가Edaily |
Overview
Adult stem cells (somatic or tissue-specific stem cells) are rare undifferentiated cells that reside in specialized niches in tissues such as bone marrow, skin, intestine, muscle and fat. They self-renew and are generally multipotent, producing the cell types of their own tissue to replace old or damaged cells. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the established clinical use. Mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow or adipose tissue are widely studied; the US FDA approved the first such product, Ryoncil, in December 2024 for pediatric steroid-refractory acute GVHD, and Korea approved an autologous bone-marrow product for myocardial infarction in 2011. Most other uses remain investigational. Readers should confirm a product's approval status and indication with the national regulator, as the FDA warns that many marketed stem cell products are unapproved.
References
Independent source ratio 100% (6/6)- Level A · governmentStem Cell Basics — National Institutes of Health (NIH) · accessed Sep 15, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level B · journalAdult Stem Cells in Tissue Maintenance and Regeneration — Stem Cells International (Montagnani, Rueger, Hosoda, Nurzynska) · accessed Nov 11, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level A · governmentWhat Are Stem Cells? — National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH) · accessed Nov 11, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level A · governmentConsumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes — U.S. Food and Drug Administration · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level A · governmentFDA Approves First Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to Treat Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host Disease — U.S. Food and Drug Administration · accessed Nov 10, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level D · news에프씨비파미셀 줄기세포치료제 식약청 허가 — Edaily · accessed Nov 11, 2026 · Evidence page