Adult stem cells are present in most postnatal tissues of mammals. Tissues with high rates of
cell turnover depend on the functional capacity of stem cells for lifelong maintenance of
tissue homeostasis. Adult stem cells are also required for the regeneration of tissues in
response to injury as in for example the regeneration of skeletal muscle. In addition to its
function in tissue homeostasis and regeneration adult stem cells can represent the cell type
of origin of various types of cancers including leukemia and colorectal cancer. Stem cells are
the most long-lived cells in the proliferative compartment of mammalian tissues. Therefore
stem cells have an increased risk of acquiring mutations that could ultimately lead to the
transformation of tissue stem cells. This publication presents the current knowledge in the
field of stem cell aging which was discussed at the Else Kröner-Fresenius Symposium on
Advances in Stem Cell Aging in 2011. It will be of special interest to scientists working on
stem cell research aging regeneration and cancer as well as physicians and scientists
specializing in geriatric medicine internal medicine and surgery.
