Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41369702›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology reports2025

Neuroprotective and Immunomodulatory effects of human hair follicle stem cells on streptozotocin-induced memory impairment in rats: insights into inflammation and neurotrophic mechanisms.

Etrat Hooshmandi, Elahe Rafiei, Maryam Owjfard, Yasaman Mohammadi, Farhad Koohpeyma, Leila Simani, Mohammad Sadegh Safari, Sachchida Nand Rai, Nahid Ashjazadeh, Sareh Pandamooz and 2 more

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Article in Molecular biology reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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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.

Etrat Hooshmandi *Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Elahe Rafiei *Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Maryam OwjfardClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Yasaman MohammadiClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Farhad KoohpeymaStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Leila SimaniCognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.
Mohammad Sadegh SafariClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Sachchida Nand RaiCentre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nahid AshjazadehClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran.
Sareh PandamoozStem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Mahnaz BayatClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran. mbayat53@yahoo.com.
Mohammad Saied SalehiClinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran. saied.salehi@gmail.com.

Funding

Vice-Chancellor for Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 29005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectiveAlzheimer's disease (AD), a primary cause of dementia, involves cognitive decline and neuroinflammation. Human hair follicle stem cells (hHFSCs) have shown neuroprotective potential, but their effects on immune modulation, especially in xenogeneic transplantation, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hHFSCs against memory impairment and neuroinflammation induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in male rats.

methodsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats were intracerebroventricularly injected with STZ (3 mg/kg) to induce AD-like cognitive deficits. hHFSC transplantation (1 × 10

resultsSTZ significantly impaired memory in passive avoidance test, but not Y-maze. hHFSC significantly improved memory performance. mRNA analysis revealed elevated BDNF, TGFβ, and GFAP levels in the STZ group. The increased TGFβ and GFAP levels continued following hHFSC treatment, indicating a compensatory response. Moreover, pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα) were upregulated following hHFSC therapy, suggesting persistent neuroinflammation. hHFSC led to anti-inflammatory effects through the elevation of IL-10. In addition, hHFSCs significantly reduced hippocampal atrophy and neuronal loss induced by STZ.

conclusionhHFSCs exhibit partial neuroprotective effects against STZ-induced memory impairment. The simultaneous upregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers underscores the complexity of the inflammatory response in this xenogeneic model. Future investigations should consider immunocompromised models or immunosuppressive protocols better to isolate the therapeutic effects of hHFSCs from immune responses.

Indexed as

Hair FollicleMemory DisordersStem CellsAlzheimer DiseaseAnimalsBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorDisease Models, AnimalHippocampusHumansInflammationMaleNeuroinflammatory DiseasesNeuroprotective AgentsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyStem Cell TransplantationBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorNeuroprotective AgentsStreptozocinAlzheimer diseaseInflammationMemoryNeuroimmunomodulationStem cellsStreptozotocin

Identifiers

PMID41369702

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