Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40156072›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic tool against cytokine storm: a comparison with umbilical cord counterparts.

Salvatore Vaiasicca, David W James, Gianmarco Melone, Omar Saeed, Lewis W Francis, Bruna Corradetti

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. 3D Bioprinting of Blood Vessel Model for Improving Wound Healing.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  5. 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

6 authors.

Salvatore Vaiasicca *Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
David W James *Centre of NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.
Gianmarco MeloneCentre of NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.
Omar SaeedCentre of NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.
Lewis W FrancisCentre of NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.
Bruna CorradettiCentre of NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK. bruna.corradetti@bcm.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral immunosuppressive therapies have been proposed as key treatment options for critically ill patients since the first appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from different sources have been considered for their potential to attenuate the cytokine storm associated to COVID-19 and the consequent multi-organ failure, providing evidence for safe and efficacious treatments. Among them, administration of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) has demonstrated a significant increase in survival rates, largely due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.

methodsWe applied next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis to compare the transcriptomic profiles of MSCs isolated from two gestational sources: amniotic fluid (AF) obtained during prenatal diagnosis and their clinically relevant umbilical cord counterparts, for which datasets were publicly available. A full meta-analysis was performed to identify suitable GEO and NGS datasets for comparison between AF- and UC-MSC samples.

resultsTranscriptome analysis revelaed significant differences between groups, despite both cell lines being strongly involved in the tissue development, crucial to achieve the complex task of wound healing. Significantly enriched hallmark genes suggest AF-MSC superior immunomodulatory features against signaling pathways actively involved in the cytokine storm (i.e., IL-2/STAT, TNF-a/NFkB, IL-2/STAT5, PI3K/AKT/mTOR).

conclusionsThe data presented here suggest that AF-MSCs hold significant promise for treating not only COVID-19-associated cytokine storms but also a variety of other inflammatory syndromes (i.e., those induced by bacterial infections, autoimmune disorders, and therapeutic interventions). Realizing the full potential of AF-MSCs as a comprehensive therapeutic approach in inflammatory disease management will require more extensive clinical trials and in-depth mechanistic studies.

Indexed as

Amniotic FluidCOVID-19Cytokine Release SyndromeMesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationUmbilical CordCytokinesFemaleHumansPregnancySARS-CoV-2Signal TransductionTranscriptomeCytokinesAmniotic fluidCOVID-19Cytokine stormGSEAImmunosuppressionMesenchymal stem cellsRegulatory moietiesTranscriptomic analysisUmbilical cord

Identifiers

PMID40156072
PMCPMC11951844

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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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 Socratic graph.