A pluripotent-like stem cell population identified within adult and perinatal tissue, distinguished by its tolerance for cellular stress.
Muse cells — Multilineage-differentiating Stress Enduring cells — were first identified by Dr. Mari Dezawa's group at Tohoku University, with foundational work published starting in 2010. They were discovered as a distinct subpopulation within mesenchymal cell sources, characterized by two defining features: broader differentiation potential than conventional MSCs, and unusual tolerance to cellular stress conditions (including exposure to conditions like low oxygen, low serum, or protease digestion that would kill most other adult cell types).
This stress tolerance is the origin of the name and is considered a functional signature of the population, not just a survival curiosity — it's part of how the cells are identified and studied.
Muse cells are commonly identified by co-expression of SSEA-3 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-3) — a marker more typically associated with pluripotent stem cells — alongside standard mesenchymal markers such as CD105. This dual profile is part of what distinguishes Muse cells from the broader MSC population they're found within: they appear to represent a naturally occurring subset with expanded, pluripotent-like differentiation capacity, arising without the genetic reprogramming used to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Muse cells have been identified within mesenchymal cell populations from multiple sources, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord tissue, as a naturally occurring subpopulation rather than a separately isolated cell type. Research into their homing behavior and mechanism of action — including signaling via sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) — is discussed in Muse Cell Homing Research.
This page is educational reference material for licensed healthcare providers and does not constitute medical, legal, or regulatory advice. HCT/P products are not FDA-approved.