The present invention is directed to an agonist of NOD2 for use in therapy for increasing the autonomous capacity of survival of vertebrate adult stem cells, without loss of their capacity to multiply and differentiate, and preferably the capacity of survival of intestinal stem cells, especially in response to a stress. The invention also concerns the use of an agonist of Nod2 for increasing in vitro or ex vivo the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cell. The invention also discloses different media and support for mammalian adult stem cells. The invention also concerns an in vitro screening process for identifying molecules capable increasing, in response to a stress, the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cells.
