Evidence mapPaperPMID 41877175Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2026

Donor age and sex program MSC secretome signaling: a quadrant framework for precision therapy.

Tasnim Azad, Kimsor Hong, Feifeng Wu, Jueyi Mao, Xin Zhou, Haotian Xie, Xinying Qiu, Binbin Li, Liang Zhang, Jidong Tian and 1 more

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Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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11 authors.

Tasnim AzadDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Kimsor HongDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Feifeng WuDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Jueyi MaoDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Xin ZhouDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Haotian XieDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Xinying QiuDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Binbin LiDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Liang ZhangThe Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Jidong TianDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China. tianjidong@csu.edu.cn.
Chuan WenDepartment of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China. chuanwen@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinical responses to mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies remain variable because MSCs are often treated as uniform biologics despite donor-programmed differences. Evidence indicates that developmental maturity (fetal vs. adult) and biological sex (female vs. male) bias the MSC secretome and downstream signalling (NF-κB, PI3K/AKT-ERK, TGF-β/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin), potentially shaping anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, anti-fibrotic, and regenerative functions.

methodsWe conducted a targeted synthesis of peer-reviewed in vitro, preclinical, and early clinical studies that relate donor features (maturity, sex) to secretome mediators (EV miRNAs/proteins; cytokines/growth factors) and pathway readouts. Findings were organized along mediator→pathway→function chains and distilled into a rule-based quadrant model (fetal♀, fetal♂, adult♀, adult♂), with qualitative consideration of tissue source and manufacturing variables.

resultsConsistent donor-programmed skews emerged: fetal female MSCs enrich IL-10/TSG-6 and miR-125a with NF-κB suppression and Treg/DC-tolerizing activity; fetal male MSCs elevate VEGF/bFGF/HGF with PI3K/AKT-ERK activation supporting angiogenic survival; adult female MSCs show TGF-β/Smad tuning compatible with anti-fibrotic remodelling; adult male MSCs upregulate WNT5A/IGF-1/Runx2, favouring regenerative/osteogenic programmes with comparatively lower oxidative-stress resilience. We translate these patterns into fit-for-purpose potency/CQA panels (e.g., IL-10/TSG-6; VEGF/HGF with pAKT/pERK; TGF-β/Smad; WNT5A/IGF-1/Runx2) and concise trial schemas (stratification by maturity×sex; pathway-anchored pharmacodynamic biomarkers).

conclusionsA signaling-centered, donor-stratified framework may help organize heterogeneous findings in the MSC field and generate testable predictions for potency assessment, indication matching, and study design. Because most available evidence evaluates sex or maturity in isolation and under diverse tissue sources and manufacturing conditions, the proposed quadrant model should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. Prospective, harmonized, head-to-head validation across donor quadrants will be required to determine its translational utility.

Indexed as

Mesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationSecretomeAge FactorsAnimalsFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsSignal TransductionTissue DonorsCell-cell communicationDonor ageDonor sexExtracellular vesicles (EVs)ImmunomodulationMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)MSC heterogeneityPrecision regenerative medicineSecretomeSignaling pathways

Identifiers

PMID41877175
PMCPMC13428431

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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.