细胞竞争描述了更适应的细胞能够感知并指导消除适应性较弱的突变细胞的过程。自从在果蝇中发现以来，细胞竞争已经被确认为重要的有机体发育、稳态和疾病进程的调节因子。因此，干细胞（SCs）对这些过程至关重要，利用细胞竞争来清除异常细胞并维护组织完整性。在这里，我们描述了在各种细胞环境和生物体中对细胞竞争的开创性研究，最终目标是更好地理解哺乳动物SCs中的竞争。此外，我们探讨了SC竞争发生的方式及其如何促进正常细胞功能或导致病理状态。最后，我们讨论了理解这一关键现象将使我们能够针对SC驱动的过程进行目标治疗，包括再生和肿瘤进展。©2023。作者，ADMCAssociazioneDifferenziamentoe Morte Cellulare具有独有的许可权。

Cell competition describes the process in which cells of greater fitness are capable of sensing and instructing elimination of lesser fit mutant cells. Since its discovery in Drosophila, cell competition has been established as a critical regulator of organismal development, homeostasis, and disease progression. It is therefore unsurprising that stem cells (SCs), which are central to these processes, harness cell competition to remove aberrant cells and preserve tissue integrity. Here, we describe pioneering studies of cell competition across a variety of cellular contexts and organisms, with the ultimate goal of better understanding competition in mammalian SCs. Furthermore, we explore the modes through which SC competition takes place and how this facilitates normal cellular function or contributes to pathological states. Finally, we discuss how understanding of this critical phenomenon will enable targeting of SC-driven processes, including regeneration and tumor progression.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to ADMC Associazione Differenziamento e Morte Cellulare.