Gut Stem Cell Secretome Therapy Promotes Durable Neuroprotection and Functional Recovery After Stroke

In middle-aged male rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion, intestinal epithelial stem cell secretome given at 4h/24h/48h restored gut architecture and improved cognitive and social outcomes.

• Why it matters: Stroke disrupts the gut barrier acutely and leaves chronic cognitive-affective deficits, but a cell-free therapy and sex-specific effectiveness were unclear.
• What they did: Rats received intestinal epithelial stem cell secretome from healthy sex-matched adult media or control media after stroke; gut histology, permeability markers, serum cytokines, and behavioral tests were measured at acute and chronic time points.
• The result: Acute gut repair and reduced inflammatory cytokines were seen in males and improved outcomes at 4+ weeks, while the same regimen in females failed to restore gut architecture until a 4-dose 4h/12h/24h/36h schedule.

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