ReviewFrontiers in cell and developmental biology2026
Therapeutic value of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in hypertrophic and keloid scars: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Review
- Smart Microneedles Regulate Reactive Oxygen Species and Deliver Matrix Metalloproteinases for Pathological Scar Treatment.ACS nano · 2026Article
- Mesenchymal stem cells and derived extracellular vesicles in major respiratory diseases: from multifaceted molecular mechanisms to clinical perspectives.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Keloids and hypertrophic scars are pathological wound healing responses characterized by excessive scar tissue formation, presenting significant challenges to both patients and healthcare systems globally. Existing evidence demonstrates that mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) can attenuate collagen deposition and contraction in scar tissue; however, their application in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids remains largely at the preclinical stage. This systematic review aims to critically assess preclinical studies on the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-EVs in the management of keloids and hypertrophic scars. The review synthesizes findings from controlled and interventional studies, focusing on the use of MSC-EVs in animal models of these scars and their application in human subjects with raised scars following skin injury. Methods: A total of 15 studies involving 253 animals were identified through a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, MEDLINE Complete, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases, covering the period from their inception to August 29, 2025. The aim was to evaluate the effects of MSC-EV therapy on keloids and hypertrophic scars through a meta-analysis of the standardized mean difference (SMD) in preclinical animal models. Meta-analyses were conducted using Stata 18 software. Results: Meta-analysis indicated that compared with the control group, MSC-Exos treatment group can significantly reduce. The dimensions of hypertrophic scars and keloids [(SMD) -2.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.88-1.69)]. Also attenuate other outcomes, such as Collagen Type I [SMD = -4.39, 95%CI: -5.96-2.81], Collagen Type III [SMD = -5.19, 95%CI: -6.93-3.44], migration and proliferation of skin fibroblasts, and the expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in scar tissue. Conclusion: The meta-analysis supports the therapeutic potential of MSC-EVs in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars, as demonstrated in preclinical animal models. MSC-EV therapy has been shown to downregulate the dimensions of hypertrophic scars and keloids, inhibit collagen deposition, and reduce migration and proliferation of skin fibroblasts. Additionally, MSC-EVs suppress the expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in scar tissue. These findings highlight MSC-EVs as a promising therapeutic approach for managing keloids and hypertrophic scars.
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