Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40221757›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Assembly of MSCs into a spheroid configuration increases poly(I:C)-mediated TLR3 activation and the immunomodulatory potential of MSCs for alleviating murine colitis.

Chao-Ting Ho, Ying-Chi Kao, Yueh-Ming Shyu, I-Ching Wang, Qiao-Xuan Liu, Shao-Wen Liu, Shih-Chen Huang, Han Chiu, Li-Wen Hsu, Tzu-Sheng Hsu and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article 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 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

12 authors.

Chao-Ting HoInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Ying-Chi KaoInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Yueh-Ming ShyuInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
I-Ching WangInstitute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Qiao-Xuan LiuInstitute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Shao-Wen LiuInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Shih-Chen HuangInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Han ChiuInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Li-Wen HsuBioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu , Taiwan.
Tzu-Sheng HsuInstitute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. tshsu@life.nthu.edu.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8597-6939
Wan-Chen HsiehInstitute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. wchsieh@life.nthu.edu.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1028-4732
Chieh-Cheng HuangInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. chiehcheng@mx.nthu.edu.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1773-8450

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with significant clinical challenges due to the limitations of current therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have shown promise in alleviating IBD owing to their potent immunomodulatory properties. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these cells remains suboptimal, primarily due to the harsh peritoneal microenvironment, which compromises MSC viability and functional capacity after transplantation.

methodsTo address these limitations, this study aimed to improve MSC engraftment and functionality by assembling MSCs into three-dimensional (3D) spheroids and priming them with the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)). Their potential for treating IBD was evaluated using male C57BL/6 mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

resultsWhile 3D spheroid formation alone upregulated TLR3 expression and increased MSC survival under oxidative stress, poly(I:C) priming had a pronounced synergistic effect, significantly increasing MSC-mediated splenocyte modulation and oxidative stress resistance. In a murine colitis model, compared with unprimed spheroids or MSC suspensions, poly(I:C)-primed MSC spheroids administered intraperitoneally exhibited increased survival and therapeutic efficacy, effectively alleviating colitis symptoms, reducing colonic inflammation, and promoting tissue recovery.

conclusionCollectively, these findings highlight the synergistic benefits of combining 3D spheroid assembly with TLR3 activation as an innovative strategy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-based treatments for IBD and other inflammatory diseases by increasing post-engraftment cell survival and immunomodulatory capacity.

Indexed as

ColitisMesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationPoly I-CSpheroids, CellularToll-Like Receptor 3AnimalsDextran SulfateDisease Models, AnimalHumansImmunomodulationMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLDextran SulfatePoly I-CTLR3 protein, mouseToll-Like Receptor 3Cell spheroidImmunomodulationInflammatory bowel diseaseMesenchymal stem cellToll-like receptor

Identifiers

PMID40221757
PMCPMC11993957

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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.