Anat Cell Biol.  2024 Sep;57(3):333-345. 10.5115/acb.24.082.

Transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells optimized with IFN-γ is a potential procedure for modification of motor impairment in multiple sclerosis cases: a preclinical systematic review and metaanalysis study

• Araghi MME
• Abdolmaleki A
• Ghaleh HEG
• Kondori BJ
• Alvanegh AG
• Moghaddam MM
• Anbaran SJHN

• KMID: 2559746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.082

Abstract

Stem cells transplantation (SCT) is known as a newfound strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) contain various regenerative features. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a laboratory model of MS. This meta-analysis study was conducted to assess the overall therapeutic effects of hUCMSCs on reduction of clinical score (CS) and restoration of active movement in EAE-induced animals. For comprehensive searching (in various English and Persian databases until May 1, 2024), the main keywords of “Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis”, “Multiple Sclerosis”, “Human”, “Umbilical Cord”, “Mesenchymal”, and “Stem Cell” were hired. Collected data were transferred to the citation manager software (EndNote x8) and duplicate papers were merged. Primary and secondary screenings were applied (according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria) and eligible studies were prepared for data collection. CS of two phases of peak and recovery of EAE were extracted as the difference in means and various analyses including heterogeneity, publication bias, funnel plot, and sensitivity index were reported. Metaanalysis was applied by CMA software (v.2), P<0.05 was considered a significant level, and the confidence interval (CI) was determined 95% (95% CI). Six eligible high-quality (approved by ARRIVE checklist) papers were gathered. The difference in means of peak and recovery phases were –0.775 (–1.325 to –0.225; P=0.006; I² =90.417%) and –1.230 (–1.759 to –0.700; P<0.001; I² =93.402%), respectively. The overall therapeutic effects of SCT of hUCMSCs on the EAE cases was –1.011 (95% CI=–1.392 to –0.629; P=0.001). hUCMSCs transplantation through the intravenous route to the animal MS model (EAE) seems a considerably effective procedure for the alleviation of motor defects in both phases of peak and recovery.

Keyword

Umbilical cord; Mesenchymal stem cell; Cell therapy; Transplantation; Multiple sclerosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 PRISMA flow diagram (2020) representing the process of eligible paper selection. WoS, Web of Science; SID, scientific information database; ISC, Islamic World Science Citation Center.

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  Fig. 2 Quality study representing the risk of bias of included papers according to the ARRIVE checklist. Yes, items mentioned in the text according to the ARRIVE; No, not mentioned items in the text according to the ARRIVE; N/A, not applicable items according to the ARRIVE; ARRIVE, Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments.

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  Fig. 3 High-resolution forest plot table representing difference in means and 95% CI in included animal studies with EAE treated by hUCMSCs (random effect model). CI, confidence interval; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; hUCMSCs, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

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  Fig. 4 Funnel plot representing publication bias of clinical score.

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  Fig. 5 Sensitivity assessment using one-study removed in a random-effect model of clinical score value. CI, confidence interval.

Reference

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