Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41888789›Full record

ArticleJournal of nanobiotechnology2026

Endothelialized human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes enhances angiogenesis and stabilizes the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury.

Quanbo Liu, Wentao Zhang, Jingbo Xue, Xuelin Li, Jinghua Tan, Zhun Xu, Ming Wang, Yunlong Li, Zhihua Ouyang, Cheng Wang and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
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

13 authors.

Quanbo Liu *Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Wentao Zhang *Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Jingbo XueDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Xuelin LiDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Jinghua TanDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Zhun XuDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Ming WangDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Yunlong LiDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Zhihua OuyangDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Cheng WangDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Yiguo YanDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Liyuan JiangDepartment of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. jiangliyuanxy@csu.edu.cn.
Yong XieDepartment of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China. xieyong@usc.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82502905National Natural Science Foundation of China 82572949 and 82202722Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province 2024JJ6636 and 2025JJ40098Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province 2025JJ60555Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province 24B0395
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Restoration of vascular structure and function is pivotal for neurological recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI), yet repairing the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) remains a significant challenge. In this study, we demonstrate that exosomes (Exos) derived from endothelialized human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (E‑UCMSCs) markedly enhance angiogenesis, improve vascular function, and promote neurological recovery. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were induced to differentiate into endothelial‑like cells, and RNA‑sequencing revealed upregulation of genes associated with angiogenesis and vascular barrier integrity, alongside activation of relevant signaling pathways. In a co‑culture system, E‑UCMSC‑derived Exos significantly enhanced bEnd.3 cell migration and BSCB stability. To enable targeted delivery to neovasculature, Exos were engineered with RGD peptides (RGD‑E‑UCMSC‑Exos) via lentiviral modification. In vivo, these modified Exos preferentially localized to neovascular endothelial cells, promoted angiogenesis, reinforced BSCB integrity, and improved neurological outcomes in SCI mouse models. Proteomic profiling identified key angiogenic and barrier‑stabilizing factors carried by RGD‑E‑UCMSC‑Exos, including MMP2, FLT1, TIMP1, GAS6, CTHRC1, and NEO1, which likely mediate their therapeutic effects. Collectively, these findings provide novel mechanistic insights and establish a novel strong preclinical foundation for exosome‑based therapies in SCI.

Indexed as

AngiogenesisBlood-Spinal Cord BarrierExosomesMesenchymal Stem CellsNeovascularization, PhysiologicSpinal Cord InjuriesUmbilical CordAnimalsCell DifferentiationCell MovementEndothelial CellsFemaleHumansMiceAngiogenesisBlood-spinal cord barrierEndothelialized human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cellsEngineered exosomesSpinal cord injury

Identifiers

PMID41888789
PMCPMC13200441

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.