Stem cells are important for growth and regeneration given their ability to self-renew and differentiate into mature cells. Resistance to certain viral infections has been established as a phenotype of stem cells, a protection in line with their important physiological function. Antiviral resistance is critical to all cells, but it is differentially regulated between stem cells and differentiated cells. Stem cells utilize antiviral RNA interference, interferon-independent repression of endogenous retroviruses and intrinsic expression of antiviral interferon-stimulated genes. Differentiated cells often rely on the interferon-associated protein-based response to induce a local antiviral state. This review outlines the antiviral resistance mechanisms of stem cells and discusses some ideas as to why stem cells and differentiated cells may have evolved to utilize distinct mechanisms.
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