Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40467389›Full record

ArticleChinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi2025

NINJ1 impairs the anti-inflammatory function of hUC-MSCs with synergistic IFN-γ and TNF-α stimulation.

Wang Hu, Guomei Yang, Luoquan Ao, Peixin Shen, Mengwei Yao, Yuchuan Yuan, Jiaoyue Long, Zhan Li, Xiang Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

9 authors.

Wang HuDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Guomei YangCentral Laboratory, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Luoquan AoDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Peixin ShenDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Mengwei YaoDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Yuchuan YuanDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Jiaoyue LongResearch Center, Chongqing Kangcell Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Chongqing, 400000, China.
Zhan LiCentral Laboratory, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China. Electronic address: Zhan_Li@tmmu.edu.cn.
Xiang XuDepartment of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Science and Technology Achievement Incubation Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan province, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Kidney Diseases, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China. Electronic address: xiangxu@tmmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo investigate the regulatory role of nerve injury-induced protein 1 (NINJ1) in the anti-inflammatory function of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) co-stimulated by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).

methodshUC-MSCs were expanded in vitro using standard protocols, with stem cell characteristics confirmed by flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation assays. The immunomodulatory properties and cellular activity of cytokine-co-pretreated hUC-MSCs were systematically evaluated via quantitative reverse transcription RT-qPCR, lymphocyte proliferation suppression assays, and Cell Counting Kit-8 viability tests. Transcriptome sequencing, Western blotting and small interfering RNA interference were integrated to analyze the regulatory mechanisms of NINJ1 expression. Functional roles of NINJ1 in pretreated hUC-MSCs were elucidated through gene silencing combined with lactate dehydrogenase release assays, Annexin V/Propidium Iodide apoptosis analysis, macrophage co-culture models, and cytokine Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Therapeutic efficacy was validated in a cecal ligation and puncture-induced septic mouse model: 80 mice were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups (n=20/group): sham group (laparotomy without cecal ligation); phosphate-buffered saline-treated group (cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) + 0.1 mL phosphate-buffered saline); hUC-MSCs (small interfering RNA (siRNA)-interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha co-stimulation (IT))-treated group (CLP + hUC-MSCs transfected with scrambled siRNA); and hUC-MSCs (siNINJ1-IT)-treated group (CLP + hUC-MSCs with NINJ1-targeting siRNA).

resultshUC-MSCs demonstrated compliance with International Society for Cellular Therapy criteria, confirming their stem cell identity. IFN-γ/TNF-α co-pretreatment enhanced the immunosuppressive capacity of hUC-MSCs, accompanied by the reduction of cellular viability, while concurrently upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β. This co-stimulation significantly elevated NINJ1 expression in hUC-MSCs, whereas genetic silencing of NINJ1 effectively suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production and attenuated damage-associated molecular patterns release through inhibition of programmed plasma membrane rupture. Furthermore, the NINJ1 interference potentiated the ability of cytokine-pretreated hUC-MSCs to suppress LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 macrophages. In cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis model, NINJ1-silenced hUC-MSCs exhibited enhanced therapeutic efficacy, manifested by reduced systemic inflammation and multi-organ damage.

conclusionOur findings shed new light on the immunomodulatory functions of cytokine-primed MSCs, offering groundbreaking insights for developing MSC-based therapies against inflammatory diseases via interfering the expression of NINJ1.

Indexed as

Interferon-gammaMesenchymal Stem CellsTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaAnimalsApoptosisCells, CulturedHumansMaleMiceUmbilical CordInterferon-gammaTumor Necrosis Factor-alphahUC-MSCsIFN-γNINJ1SepsisTNF-α

Identifiers

PMID40467389
PMCPMC12282201

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.