SynthesisBMC nephrology2026
A systematic review and meta-analysis of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis or proteinuric nephropathy.
Synthesis in BMC nephrology, 2026. 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
Abstract
introductionDiabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis (LN) or proteinuric nephropathy slow progression but rarely reverse established renal damage. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) therapy has been explored as a regenerative and immunomodulatory approach.
objectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in diabetic nephropathy and LN or proteinuric nephropathy.
methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE up to November 1, 2024. Eligible studies included patients with diabetic nephropathy, LN or proteinuric nephropathy who received MSC therapy, either compared with a placebo/control group or as single-arm cohorts with predefined renal function outcomes. Data extraction was performed in duplicate. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. The primary outcome was the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); safety outcomes focused on serious adverse events (SAEs). Only randomized trials were included in the quantitative synthesis; non-randomized and single-arm studies were described separately. The effect size was expressed as the mean difference (MD), calculated using a random-effects model. Among the included randomized trials, MSC treatment significantly improved eGFR compared with the placebo group (pooled MD = 4.62 mL/min/1.73 m², 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.31, 7.94]; Higgins’ inconsistency statistic (I²) = 27.20%). Across the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), there was no increase in SAEs (pooled relative risk = 1.97, 95% CI [0.65, 5.94]; I² = 0%). The pooled incidence of events from single-arm studies was summarized qualitatively.
resultsSix studies (n = 104) met the inclusion criteria: two randomized trials in DKD, one randomized trial in LN, and three single-arm studies. In the pooled analysis of randomized trials, MSC treatment significantly improved the eGFR compared with the placebo group (pooled MD = 4.62 mL/min/1.73 m², 95% CI: 1.31 to 7.94; I² = 27.20%). The single-arm studies were clinically and methodologically heterogeneous. Across the DKD RCTs, there was no significant increase in SAEs (pooled risk ratio [RR] = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.65 to 5.94; I² = 0%). The incidence data from single-arm studies are summarized qualitatively.
conclusionsIn this stratified synthesis, MSC therapy showed a consistent signal of benefit for kidney function in DKD randomized trials, with modest eGFR improvement and very low between-study heterogeneity. In LN, evidence remains limited to one small RCT and single-arm studies. Across the DKD RCTs, SAEs were not increased with MSCs, and single-arm cohorts suggested acceptable short-term tolerability, though safety reporting was heterogeneous.
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.