Genome surveillance in pluripotent stem cells: Low apoptosis threshold and efficient antioxidant defense.

Pluripotent stem cells must be endowed with efficient genome surveillance. Here we describe the multiple mechanisms that ensure their genome integrity, including high susceptibility to apoptosis and efficient prevention of DNA lesions. In induced pluripotent stem cells, apoptosis hypersensitivity is mediated by increased expression of proapoptotic BCL-2 protein, whereas DNA damage is prevented by the upregulation of several antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidants might be therefore employed for safer stem cell therapies.