Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40055739›Full record

SynthesisStem cell research & therapy2025

Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cells in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Mumin Cao, Zhengkuan Ou, Renwang Sheng, Qianqian Wang, Xiangxu Chen, Cheng Zhang, Guangchun Dai, Hao Wang, Jiamin Li, Xihan Zhang and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  17. Evolving Strategies for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review of Integrated Rehabilitation, Pharmacologic, and Joint-Preserving Interventions.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mumin Cao *Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Zhengkuan Ou *Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Renwang Sheng *Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Qianqian WangJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China.
Xiangxu ChenDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Cheng ZhangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Guangchun DaiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Hao WangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Jiamin LiKey Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Xihan ZhangSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
Yucheng GaoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China.
Liu ShiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China. shiliu_gk@126.com.
Yunfeng RuiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, No. 87 Ding Jia Qiao, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, PR China. ruiyunfeng@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9019-5531

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81871812Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20221462Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province for Young Scholars BK20200398SEU Innovation Capability Enhancement Plan for Doctoral Students CXJH_SEU 25231Winfast Charity Foundation Project YL20220525
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alone for the treatment of unoperated knee osteoarthritis (OA).

methodsFour databases were systematically searched (before August 1, 2024) to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of MSCs for OA. The population of this study was OA patients who had not received any surgical treatment. The intervention was intra-articular injection of MSCs without other adjuvant therapy. Outcomes included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 100-mm Visual Analog Score (VAS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Prognostic Score (KOOS), and adverse events. After screening the literature according to the eligibility criteria, extracting the data, and evaluating the quality, Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 software. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

results8 RCTs and 502 patients with OA were included in the study. Compared with the control group, MSCs significantly improved 6-month WOMAC [MD = 7.44, 95% CI = (1.45, 13.42), P = 0.01] and 12-month WOMAC [MD = 10.31, 95% CI = (0.96, 19.67), P = 0.03]. MSCs also improved VAS and KOOS at 6 and 12 months in patients with OA. Subgroup analysis showed more significant efficacy of adipose source and high doses of MSCs. There was no significant difference between the adverse events in the MSCs group and the control group (P > 0.05).

conclusionIntra-articular injection of MSCs alone could significantly improve knee pain and dysfunction in patients with unoperated OA. MSCs are expected to be an effective treatment for OA with enhanced delivery efficiency.

Indexed as

Mesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationOsteoarthritis, KneeHumansInjections, Intra-ArticularRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeIntra-articular injectionKnee osteoarthritisMesenchymal stem cellsMeta-analysisRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID40055739
PMCPMC11887158

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.