Evidence mapPaperPMID 41129073Full record

SynthesisStem cell reviews and reports2026

The Influence of GLP-1 Agonists on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Systematic Review.

Luisa Weber, Maryam Hashemnia Sharbabaki, Benedikt Fuchs, Paolo Alberton, Riccardo Giunta, Sinan Mert, Nikolaus Thierfelder

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Stem cell reviews and reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

7 authors.

Luisa Weber *Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany. luisa.weber@med.uni-muenchen.de.ORCID 0009-0002-4800-6674
Maryam Hashemnia Sharbabaki *Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Benedikt FuchsDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Paolo AlbertonDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Riccardo GiuntaDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Sinan Mert *Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Nikolaus Thierfelder *Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for managing type 2 diabetes, have gained attention for their weight-reducing and broader biological effects. Among these, their influence on human mesenchymal stem cells remains underexplored, despite the critical role of mesenchymal stem cells in tissue regeneration and secretion of bioactive factors.

methodsThis systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify and evaluate in vitro studies investigating the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and their analogues on human mesenchymal stem cell functions, including proliferation, differentiation, signaling, apoptosis, and tissue-specific applications. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted Quality Assessment Tool for In Vitro Studies (QUIN) tool.

resultsThirty-eight eligible studies were identified. Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist, like native glucagon-like peptide-1, Exendin-4, and Liraglutide, exert context-, dose-, and timing-dependent effects on human mesenchymal stem cells. They modulate proliferation and overall promote osteogenesis while inhibiting adipogenesis. Key pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, bone morphogenetic protein 2/Smad, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and protein kinase A, play a role in this. Furthermore, these agents modulate inflammation, reduce apoptosis, and improve stem cell functions even under diabetic or inflammatory conditions. Exendin-4 facilitated tenogenic and insulin-producing cell differentiation, particularly in engineered scaffolds or genetically engineered human mesenchymal stem cells.

conclusionGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists modulate key pathways in human mesenchymal stem cells to influence survival, differentiation, and metabolic function, suggesting promising therapeutic potential beyond glycemic control. However, heterogeneous experimental designs and limited translational data necessitate further standardized and in vivo research to define clinical applications.

Indexed as

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsMesenchymal Stem CellsApoptosisCell DifferentiationCell ProliferationExenatideGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 ReceptorHumansLiraglutideOsteogenesisSignal TransductionExenatideGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 ReceptorGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsLiraglutideExendin-4Glucagon-like-peptide-1Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptorHuman mesenchymal stem cellsLiraglutideRegenerative medicineSemaglutideTirzepatide

Identifiers

PMID41129073
PMCPMC12795975

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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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.