OUR SCIENCE
what are
MUSECells™
Multilineage-differentiating stress enduring (MUSE) cells are endogenous non-tumorigenic pluripotent stem cells found in the bone marrow, organ connective tissues, umbilical cord and peripheral blood. They are also a distinct subpopulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) characterized by their ability to adapt to a wider range of cell types and higher stress tolerance.
When conventional MSCs are used in therapies for tissue repair, they can only differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. MUSECells™ can directly differentiate into various cell types that comprise the tissue, leading to more comprehensive tissue regeneration.
Discovery of
MUSECells™
MUSECells™ were discovered by Professor Mari Dezawa and her team at Tohoku University in Japan in 2010. The discovery arose during research into adult stem cells and their potential for regenerative medicine.
Professor Dezawa and her colleagues identified a specific subpopulation of stem cells that exhibited unique qualities like stress resistance and multilineage-differentiation, distinguishing them from other stem cells.
The breakthrough came when researchers observed that certain adult mesenchymal stem cells could survive in extreme environments, such as in the presence of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or under serum deprivation, where most other cells would perish.
These cells also expressed key Pluripotent surface markers like SSEA-3, which is typically associated with embryonic stem cells. This combination of resilience and pluripotency led to their identification as MUSECells™.
HOW MuseCells™
ARE COLLECTED
MUSECells™ naturally exist in small quantities in various tissues, including the umbilical cord, bone marrow, adipose tissue, and dermis. The collection process involves isolating and purifying these cells using specific markers and techniques:
Main Source of MuseCells™ for Clinical Use
COMMON SOURCES INCLUDE:
- Umbilical cord tissue
- Bone marrow
- Adipose tissue
- Skin fibroblasts
Collection Techniques
- SSEA-3 Marker:
MUSECells™ are identified by their expression of Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen-3 (SSEA-3), the pluripotent stem cell surface marker known to be expressed in Embryonic Stem (ES) cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells, and cells at the pluripotent stage of development such as 2–8 cell stages, blastomere and blastocyst. This is critical because most traditional MSCs do not express this marker. - Flow Cytometry or Magnetic Sorting:
Advanced laboratory techniques like Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) or Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) are used to isolate SSEA-3-positive cells from the source tissue. - Stress Treatment (Optional):
In some protocols, incubation under stress (such as low-nutrition culture conditions) can enrich MUSE cell populations, as they are stress-tolerant and are uniquely equipped to survive, while cells other than MUSECells™ in the source tissue die under such conditions. - Culture and Expansion:
Once isolated, MUSECells™ are cultured under specific conditions to encourage growth and enhance pluripotency while preserving their unique characteristics. Unlike other stem cells, MUSECells™ do not require the addition of feeder layers, viral reprogramming, or complex differentiation protocols.
MUSECells™ VS TRADITIONAL STEM CELLS
MUSECells™and MUSEExosomes™ offer numerous advantages over traditional MSCs (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) and their exosomes due to their pluripotency, stress resistance, safety profile, and broader therapeutic potential.
MUSECells™
Traditional MSC Administration
Differentiable cell types
Differentiation ability in vivo
Tumorigenicity
Immune rejection due to use of donor cells
Immunosuppressant treatment
Most effective method for delivery to target organ
Distribution in the body after intravenous injection
Delivery rate to target organ after intravenous injection
Main functions after homing to target organ:
Replacement of damaged cells by differentiation
Angiogenesis
Vascular protection
Anti-inflammatory effect
Anti-fibrotic effect
Tissue protective effect
Survival in target organ
Necessity for gene manipulation
THESE CHARACTERISTICS MAKE MUSECELLS™ and MUSEEXOSOMES™ AN EXCITING INNOVATION IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, ESPECIALLY FOR PATIENTS SEEKING MORE EFFECTIVE AND VERSATILE TREATMENTS.
