Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41999179›Full record

SynthesisCell transplantation

Evolution of mesenchymal stem cell therapies for traumatic brain injury: A decade of advances, mechanisms, and translational prospects.

Peining Zhu, Yufei Gao

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cell transplantation. 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

2 authors.

Peining ZhuChina-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.ORCID 0009-0008-4695-0972
Yufei GaoChina-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major global health challenge with limited effective treatments. This systematic review documents the significant evolution of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies from traditional cell transplants to advanced cell-free products and engineered delivery systems. A systematic search was conducted across Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed/Medline for studies published from January 2015 to June 2025, resulting in the inclusion of 80 studies for qualitative synthesis. The review identifies four primary therapeutic mechanisms: reducing inflammation, protecting brain cells, maintaining the blood-brain barrier, and supporting tissue repair/regrowth. This PROSPERO-registered systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Methodological quality and risk-of-bias were rigorously assessed using a multi-tool approach tailored to study design (Cochrane RoB, SYRCLE, NOS/JBI). Recent clinical evidence (e.g. STEMTRA trial) suggests these treatments are safe and can improve function in chronic TBI patients. Despite this, critical research gaps persist in establishing standardized protocols, optimal dosing, and long-term safety data. Emerging trends include (1) shifting toward enhanced exosomes/secretomes, (2) integrating MSCs/derivatives with advanced biomaterials for controlled delivery, (3) exploring alternative MSC sources, and (4) developing combination therapies. With a deepening mechanistic understanding and positive early clinical results, future research must prioritize standardization and personalized treatment plans to accelerate clinical translation.

Indexed as

Brain Injuries, TraumaticMesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationAnimalsHumansTranslational Research, Biomedicalextracellular vesicles/exosomesmesenchymal stem cell (MSC)neuroregenerationtranslational medicinetraumatic brain injury (TBI)

Identifiers

PMID41999179
PMCPMC13100380

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.