Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41459489›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in immunology2025

Unpacking the anti-fibrotic arsenal: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic translation of MSC-derived exosomes in pulmonary fibrosis.

Yijia Xiao, Iqra Hoorain, Lin Zhang, Saverio Bellusci, Xuru Jin, Hongzhong Yang, Jin-San Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. 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. Stem cell extracellular vesicles for neuropsychiatric disorders and translation.Extracellular vesicles and circulating nucleic acids · 2026
    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

7 authors.

Yijia Xiao *Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, China.
Iqra Hoorain *Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Lin ZhangDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, China.
Saverio BellusciDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, China.
Xuru JinDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, China.
Hongzhong YangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, China.
Jin-San ZhangMedical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive, fatal interstitial lung disease with a dire prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Current standard-of-care anti-fibrotic agents (e.g., nintedanib and pirfenidone) offer only modest efficacy in slowing disease progression. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) have recently emerged as a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy, boasting superior biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, enhanced biodistribution, and an innate tropism for injured tissues. Their potent anti-fibrotic effects are mediated through multiple mechanisms: targeted homing to fibrotic niches; reprogramming of dysregulated immune responses, notably by shifting macrophage polarization from a pro-inflammatory (M1) to an anti-inflammatory/reparative (M2) phenotype; suppression of pathological extracellular matrix deposition via inhibition of core fibrogenic pathways; and alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in alveolar epithelial cells. This review systematically delineates the biological functions and molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic actions of MSC-Exos in PF. We further evaluate completed and ongoing clinical trials (2014-2024), appraise the current translational landscape, and identify persistent challenges in drug development. Ultimately, this integrative analysis aims to define the mechanistic basis of MSC-Exos' efficacy, evaluate their clinical trajectory, and provide a strategic roadmap for their development into precision nanotherapeutics for PF.

Indexed as

ExosomesMesenchymal Stem CellsPulmonary FibrosisAnimalsEndoplasmic Reticulum StressHumansdrug deliveryexosomesextracellular matriximmune modulationmesenchymal stem cellspulmonary fibrosistargeted therapy

Identifiers

PMID41459489
PMCPMC12740883

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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 Socratic graph.