Evidence mapPaperPMID 41998337Full record

SynthesisCellular and molecular neurobiology2026

Neuro-Behavioral Improvement and Mechanistic Pathways of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Exosomes in Experimental Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Hadis Kariminejad-Farsangi, Haniyeh Kariminejad-Farsangi, Meraj Sharifi, Saman Azh, Zahra Ghadery Nasab, Marzie Dehghan-Kuroki, Sara Joushi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cellular and molecular neurobiology, 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

7 authors.

Hadis Kariminejad-Farsangi *Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Haniyeh Kariminejad-Farsangi *Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Meraj SharifiNeuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Saman AzhNeuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Zahra Ghadery NasabNeuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Marzie Dehghan-KurokiNeuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Sara JoushiNeuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. s.joushi@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder with limited disease-modifying treatments. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and their exosomes have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates due to their immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of BM-MSC and MSC-derived exosome therapy on clinical outcomes and mechanistic pathways in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, and gray literature sources. In vivo studies investigating BM-MSC or MSC-exosome interventions in EAE models were included. Clinical score data were synthesized using random-effects models with standardized mean differences (SMD). Mechanistic outcomes included demyelination, GFAP and IBA1 expression, and inflammatory cytokines. Study quality was assessed using SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool, and publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots, Egger’s test, and trim-and-fill analysis. Sixty-one studies met inclusion criteria, with 48 included in the meta-analysis. BM-MSC treatment significantly improved clinical scores (SMD = –1.49, 95% CI: –1.86 to –1.11, I² = 84.31%, P = 0.00) and reduced demyelination (SMD = –2.96, 95% CI: –4.49 to –1.43, I² = 95.78%, P = 0.00). MSC therapy significantly decreased GFAP-positive astrocytes (SMD = –2.99, P = 0.03) and IBA1-positive microglia (SMD = –.82, P = 0.00). Furthermore, MSC treatment led to a significant reduction in TNF-α levels (SMD = –8.58, 95% CI: –6.23 to –0.92, P = 0.03). In contrast, effects on IL-10, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels were not statistically significant. MSC-derived exosomes showed a non-significant reduction in clinical scores (SMD = –3.14, 95% CI: –6.71 to 0.42, I² = 97.43%, P = 0.08). BM-MSC therapy demonstrates significant benefits in EAE models through immunomodulation and neuroprotection. While MSC-derived exosomes show potential, their effects require further validation. Future research should focus on standardized protocols, optimal dosing strategies, and mechanistic studies to facilitate clinical translation.

Indexed as

Bone Marrow CellsEncephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, ExperimentalExosomesMesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationMultiple SclerosisAnimalsHumansBone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)ExosomesExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)Meta-analysisMultiple sclerosis (MS)Systematic review

Identifiers

PMID41998337
PMCPMC13216409

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.