Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41088992›Full record

ReviewCNS & neurological disorders drug targets2026

Unraveling the Potential of Stem Cell Therapy in Motor Neuron Disease: A Narrative Review.

Syed Muhammad Essa, Noor Ahmed Khosa, Amanullah Kakar, Basar Ozturk, Ismail A Ibrahim, Noman Haq

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Syed Muhammad EssaDepartment of Neurology, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Noor Ahmed KhosaDepartment of Neurology, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Amanullah KakarDepartment of Neurology, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Basar OzturkFaculty of Health Sciences, Fenerbahce University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ismail A IbrahimFaculty of Health Sciences, Fenerbahce University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Noman HaqFaculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Motor neuron disorders (MNDs), including ALS, are deadly neurodegenerative conditions that cause progressive motor neuron degeneration. With neuroprotection and the potential for neuron regeneration employing MSCs, ESCs, iPSCs, and NSCs, stem cell treatment presents a viable alternative to current medicines, which only control a limited number of symptoms. Following PRISMA criteria, this narrative review methodically screened 1248 records from the Cochrane, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Following a thorough screening process, 22 studies, including preclinical models and 19 clinical trials, were analysed to assess the therapeutic mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of stem cell therapies for MNDs. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown a promising safety profile and possible therapeutic efficacy in ALS, with no substantial transplant-related toxicity noted. ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) scores and forced vital capacity (FVC) assessments from clinical trials, such as those evaluating autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs, demonstrated stabilisation in ALS development. Studies have also emphasised as to how immunomodulation and neurotrophic factors play a part in MSC-based therapies. Recent data indicate that repeated intrathecal MSC injection could extend the duration of therapeutic advantages. Clinical trials have shown safety and early efficacy signals for motor neurons produced from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), especially using AstroRx®. This suggests that ESCs could be a viable option for regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, issues, like host integration and differentiation optimisation, still exist. Although clinical translation is still in its early stages, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their derivatives provide disease modelling and patient-specific therapeutic applications. Stem cell therapy holds promise for treating MND, with MSCs leading the way in current trials. It is necessary to enhance ESC- and iPSC-based techniques to tackle integration issues. To ensure long-term safety and efficacy, therapies must be developed using standardised protocols, patient stratification, optimised delivery, and large-scale studies.

Indexed as

Mesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationMotor Neuron DiseaseStem Cell TransplantationAnimalsHumansamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)embryonic stem cells (ESCs)induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)Motor neuron disorders (MNDs)neural stem cells (NSCs)neurodegenerationneuron regenerationneuroprotectionstem cell therapy

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.