Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42395946›Full record

ArticleACS omega2026

Quercetin Delivered by Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Improves Liver Fibrosis via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Dan Fang, Jing Zhang, Qingqing Zhao, Yuting Fan, Xiaojin Lin, Dan Liang, Lianjun Zhong, Yingchun Zhang, Simeng Yan, Tao Shen and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ACS omega, 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

13 authors.

Dan FangCollege of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang 550014, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3811-3604
Jing ZhangCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Qingqing ZhaoClinical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, 28 Guiyi Street, Guiyang 550001, China.
Yuting FanDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, 28 Guiyi Street, Guiyang 550001, China.
Xiaojin LinTissue Engineering and Stem Cell Experiment Center, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5269-8703
Dan LiangCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Lianjun ZhongXiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha 410013, China.
Yingchun ZhangCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Simeng YanCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Tao ShenCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Yingkun MengCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Xing ZhaoCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, 6 Ankang Avenue, Gui'an New District, Guiyang 561113, China.
Shi ZuoCollege of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, 9 Beijing Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang 550014, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Liver fibrosis represents a critical stage in the progression of chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; however, effective therapeutic options remain limited. Although quercetin, a natural flavonol, possesses potent antifibrotic properties, its clinical utility is severely hindered by poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. To address this limitation, we developed a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system using quercetin-loaded human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC)-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-exo-Que). Leveraging the innate biocompatibility and targeting capability of exosomes, this strategy aims to improve the pharmacokinetic limitations of quercetin and amplify its therapeutic efficacy. Our results demonstrate that hUC-MSC-exo-Que significantly attenuates liver fibrosis in a carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse model, outperforming free quercetin at the equivalent dose. This enhanced efficacy is attributed to the superior inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation, as confirmed by in vitro studies. The engineered exosomes exhibited a sustained drug release profile (up to 48 h) and maintained excellent stability for at least 1 week. Integrating network pharmacology with experimental validation, we identify the antifibrotic mechanism involving potent inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, with hUC-MSC-exo-Que achieving markedly greater pathway suppression than free quercetin. By successfully transforming a potent but poorly bioavailable phytochemical into a targeted nanotherapeutic, we present a promising preclinical strategy for liver fibrosis treatment and demonstrate a proof-of-concept platform for hydrophobic drug delivery.

Identifiers

PMID42395946
PMCPMC13325349

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.