SynthesisStem cell research & therapy2025
Efficacy based on dose-response and safety of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionIn recent years, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), especially those derived from bone marrow and embryonic sources, has been considered as an emerging therapeutic approach for repairing joint tissue and reducing osteoarthritis symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing for osteoarthritis treatment.
methodsThirteen randomized trials of the 1427 articles identified (11 meta-analyzed; n = 1150 patients) were identified via PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and other databases (search updated to May 2025). The primary outcomes were the optimal dose of BM-MSCs in improving pain intensity (VAS), WOMAC scores (pain, stiffness, function, total score), and their safety, analyzed using RevMan 5.4. Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment guided quality appraisal.
resultsBM-MSCs showed no significant pain reduction (VAS) or functional improvement (WOMAC) at 1-3 months' post-injection. Significant improvements emerged at 6 months, peaking at 12 months: VAS decreased by WMD - 2.31 (95% CI - 3.83 to - 0.80; P = 0.003), and WOMAC total score reduced by WMD - 10.14 (95% CI - 18.26 to - 2.02; P = 0.01). Subgroup analyses indicated optimal doses of ≤ 25 × 10⁶ cells for VAS improvement and ≤ 25 × 10⁶ or 25-50 × 10⁶ cells for WOMAC total score at 12 months. Safety profiles were favorable, with no serious adverse events reported in most studies.
conclusionBased on the findings of this meta-analysis, BM-MSCs, especially in the long term, can be effective in reducing pain, stiffness, and improving the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis. Also, the favorable safety of these cells makes them a promising option in joint reconstruction treatments. However, due to the heterogeneity of studies and the lack of standardized information on the optimal dose, it seems necessary to conduct prospective studies with careful design and long-term follow-up.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.