Human adipose multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring cells on treatment of ischemic stroke in rats

• Adipose-derived Muse cells, isolated by long-term trypsin incubation and magnetic bead sorting, express high levels of SSEA3 (80%) and exhibit enhanced neurorestorative effects in a rat model of ischemic stroke. • Intravenous transplantation of adipose-derived Muse cells significantly improved neurological function scores compared to saline and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells at day 3 post-transplantation. • Adipose-derived Muse cells reduced brain tissue damage, inhibited neuronal apoptosis, and promoted neuronal proliferation in the ischemic penumbra, as evidenced by histological and molecular analyses. • The Muse cell group showed superior anti-apoptotic effects (higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio and GAP-43 expression) compared to the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell group, suggesting a potential therapeutic advantage.