Dr. Mari Dezawa and the Discovery of MUSE Cells
BLUF: MUSE cells were discovered in 2010 by Dr. Mari Dezawa, a stem cell biologist at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. Her laboratory identified a rare SSEA-3-positive subpopulation within mesenchymal stem cells that exhibits pluripotent-like behavior without tumor formation — a finding that initiated a new branch of regenerative biology. This article traces that scientific history and explains how Dr. Charles Pereyra, MD is applying Dezawa-method protocols at Springs Rejuvenation's US locations.
The Researcher Behind the Discovery
Dr. Mari Dezawa is a professor and stem cell researcher at Tohoku University's Department of Stem Cell Biology and Histology in Sendai, Japan. Her scientific career has focused on the mechanisms of neural regeneration and adult stem cell plasticity — specifically, how cells already present in the adult body might be harnessed for repair after injury or disease.
In the mid-2000s, Dezawa's laboratory was investigating why certain preparations of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seemed to behave differently than others. Standard MSC preparations were multipotent but had limitations — they could not differentiate into all germ layer cell types, and their behavior in damaged tissue was inconsistent. Dezawa hypothesized that within the MSC population, there might be a distinct subpopulation with different properties.
The 2010 Discovery
The landmark discovery came in 2010, when Dezawa and her colleagues published research demonstrating the existence of a rare cell population within bone marrow and connective tissue that expressed the surface marker SSEA-3 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-3) — a marker previously associated with pluripotency in embryonic stem cells but not expected to appear in adult tissue-derived cells.
What made this population remarkable was its combination of properties:
- It differentiated into cell types from all three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) — a hallmark of pluripotency.
- It did not form teratomas in animal model testing — a safety profile that distinguished it sharply from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells.
- It was naturally occurring in adult tissue, requiring no genetic reprogramming.
- It activated and mobilized specifically in response to cellular stress — hypoxia, protease exposure, serum starvation — a feature that Dezawa recognized might make these cells functionally relevant in damaged tissue environments.
Dezawa named them Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring cells, or MUSE cells — a name that captures both their differentiation range and their stress-activation mechanism.
From Discovery to Clinical Translation
Following the 2010 publication, Dezawa's laboratory and affiliated groups conducted extensive characterization of MUSE cells in animal models covering stroke, spinal cord injury, myocardial infarction, liver disease, and kidney disease. A consistent finding across these models was that MUSE cells administered intravenously home to sites of tissue damage via sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling, then differentiate into tissue-appropriate cell types and exert anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic paracrine effects.
Japan's Life Science Institute took the technology into clinical development, creating CL2020 — a standardized MUSE cell product evaluated in clinical trials for acute ischemic stroke, ALS, acute myocardial infarction, and spinal cord injury. Japan's PMDA granted conditional approval for CL2020 for the management of ALS — making it among the first MUSE cell products to receive any regulatory designation anywhere in the world.
Why Dezawa's Work Matters for US Patients
The significance of Dezawa's discovery extends beyond Japan's clinical programs. The isolation methodology she developed — identifying MUSE cells by the SSEA-3 surface marker, typically using FACS-based sorting — established a reproducible standard that allows authenticated MUSE cell preparations to be distinguished from ordinary MSC products.
As Dr. Charles Pereyra, MD, I frequently explain to patients at Springs Rejuvenation that provenance is everything in regenerative medicine. When a patient asks specifically about MUSE cells, the Dezawa methodology is the reference standard — both for confirming what cells are being offered and for establishing that the claimed properties are scientifically grounded rather than marketing language.
Springs Rejuvenation sources authenticated Dezawa-method MUSE cells from an FDA approved lab for use in our physician-supervised programs across five US locations. We are among the very few US practices that can credibly make this claim — and it is a distinction we take seriously.
The Ongoing Research Landscape
Dezawa's team continues to publish across application areas including premature ovarian failure, epidermolysis bullosa, neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, COVID-related lung injury, and neurodegenerative disease. The MUSE research community is growing, with collaborative studies underway at multiple international institutions.
For patients interested in the science underpinning what we offer at Springs Rejuvenation, we recommend reading about how MUSE cells work in regenerative medicine, why authentic Dezawa-method sourcing matters, and what the research shows about MUSE cells vs traditional stem cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who discovered MUSE cells?
Dr. Mari Dezawa, a stem cell biologist at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, and her research team identified MUSE cells in 2010. Her discovery was published in peer-reviewed literature and initiated the field of MUSE cell research.
Are MUSE cells available in the US based on Dezawa's research?
Springs Rejuvenation sources cell preparations that follow the Dezawa isolation methodology (SSEA-3 marker, validated sorting protocol) from an FDA approved lab. MUSE cell programs are not an FDA approved therapy and are in the experimental stages in the United States. All programs are conducted under physician supervision.
What makes Dezawa's MUSE cells different from other stem cell products?
The Dezawa methodology specifies isolation of SSEA-3-positive cells from mesenchymal stem cell populations using validated fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Most US stem cell products do not use this isolation protocol and therefore do not isolate the MUSE subpopulation specifically. Springs Rejuvenation's cell preparations follow this methodology.
Dr. Charles Pereyra, MD, is the medical director of Springs Rejuvenation, a regenerative medicine practice with locations in Miami/Aventura, New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. All regenerative programs are administered under physician supervision with full informed consent.
Disclaimer: Springs Rejuvenation's cell preparations are produced in an FDA approved lab, but are not an FDA approved therapy. This information is currently in the experimental stages — all information provided is based on our clinical experience and published research. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results may vary. Individual results depend on many factors. Always consult a qualified physician before beginning any regenerative protocol.