Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42069568›Full record

ReviewJournal of translational medicine2026

Human birth tissue products for pathological pain: mechanisms, evidence, and translational outlook.

Chi Zhang, Qing Lin, Qian Huang, Xue-Wei Wang, Jing Liu, Ankit Uniyal, Zhaoli Luo, Xu Cao, Scheffer C G Tseng, Yun Guan

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Chi ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Qing LinDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Qian HuangDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Xue-Wei WangDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Jing LiuDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Ankit UniyalDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Zhaoli LuoDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Xu CaoDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Scheffer C G TsengBioTissue, Inc, 7300 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 700, Miami, FL, USA. stseng@BioTissue.com.
Yun GuanDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. yguan1@jhmi.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-1321-6655

Funding

Birth Tissue Products for Non-opioid Treatment of Post-surgical PainR01NS117761 · NINDS · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI GUAN, YUN · 2020 to 2024
$2.6M
Mechanistic Study of Pain Inhibition by Activation of Non-nociceptive Afferent FibersR01NS110598 · NINDS · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI GUAN, YUN · 2019 to 2024
$2.4M
NEI NIH HHS EY017497NEI NIH HHS EY021045NEI NIH HHS EY022502NEI NIH HHS EY06819NINDS NIH HHS NS110598NINDS NIH HHS NS117761NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS110598NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS117761
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPain is a hallmark of inflammation and tissue injury, particularly following major surgical procedures. Despite its prevalence and clinical impact, pathological pain, defined as persistent pain that impairs function, remains a major unmet medical need. Human birth tissue, including the amniotic membrane and umbilical cord, has long been recognized for its regenerative properties and its ability to support wound healing. Recent studies have identified heavy chain 1 (HC)-hyaluronic acid (HA)/pentraxin 3 (HC-HA/PTX3) as a key matrix component within these tissues. This complex exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring activities and helps maintain stem cell quiescence. MAIN BODY: Emerging evidence, including our own findings, indicates that human birth tissue-derived products may also modulate pain responses in certain settings, such as post-surgical pain, potentially through mechanisms involving neuronal inhibition and regenerative healing. We summarize the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which human birth tissue-derived products and HC-HA/PTX3 may exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. We then highlight preclinical and clinical studies evaluating their potential roles in wound healing and pathological pain. Finally, we discuss translational opportunities, current challenges, and future directions for advancing these biologics within the emerging field of regenerative pain medicine.

conclusionsThis review outlines a framework for potential regenerative pain management using birth tissue-derived products, which may serve as a foundation for developing new therapies for certain pathological pain conditions.

Indexed as

PainParturitionTranslational Research, BiomedicalAnimalsC-Reactive ProteinHumansHyaluronic AcidPentraxinsSerum Amyloid P-ComponentWound HealingC-Reactive ProteinHyaluronic AcidPentraxinsSerum Amyloid P-ComponentHC-HA/PTX3Human birth tissue productsPainRegenerationWound healing

Identifiers

PMID42069568
PMCPMC13288841

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.