The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread adoption of cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), diverging from the traditional preference for fresh grafts. Although cryopreservation ensures graft availability during logistical disruptions, its impact on transplantation outcomes remains uncertain. Existing studies report mixed findings, and no consensus has been established regarding long-term outcomes. In the present study, we compared clinical outcomes of fresh versus cryopreserved allogeneic PBSC grafts in patients undergoing HSCT, with a focus on engraftment and survival outcomes, and evaluated the consistency of reported effects across studies, through a meta-analysis and systematic review of retrospective cohort studies published between 2005 and 2025. PubMed and Embase were searched through May 10, 2025. Primary outcomes included composite, primary, and secondary graft failure; secondary outcomes included engraftment times, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Random-effects and fixed-effects models were conducted using R, and Kaplan-Meier curves were digitized when necessary. Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, and 19 studies were included in the systematic review. Fresh grafts were associated with significantly lower odds of composite graft failure (odds ratio [OR], 0.58), primary graft failure (OR, 0.60), and secondary graft failure (OR, 0.46), all with low heterogeneity. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment times were similar, although platelet engraftment showed a nonsignificant trend favoring fresh grafts (-1.34 days; P = .058). One-year and 2-year OS favored fresh grafts in fixed-effects models (OR, 1.15 and 1.16, respectively), but these associations were not significant under random-effects models owing to substantial heterogeneity. One-year RFS also favored fresh grafts in the fixed-effects model (OR, 1.25) but lost significance in the random-effects model. In contrast, 2-year RFS consistently favored fresh grafts across both models (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.35; I² = 0%). Our findings indicate that fresh PBSC grafts are associated with significantly lower rates of graft failure and may confer long-term survival benefits compared to cryopreserved grafts. While survival outcomes varied by statistical model because of heterogeneity, no studies reported superior outcomes with cryopreserved products. These findings support the preferential use of fresh grafts when feasible. Preclinical and clinical studies are needed to further improve the cryopreservation process. Subgroup analyses also may help identify patient populations most likely to benefit from fresh grafts.

Reproductive disorders affect millions of women worldwide, playing a crucial role in determining female fertility health and quality of life. Conventional methods such as surgery, hormone therapy, and assisted reproductive technologies can be successful in some cases, but are limited by adverse effects, and limited effectiveness. In recent years, cell therapy has provided new possibilities for treating various infertility disorders. The articles extracted from PubMed and Scopus databases were based on cell therapy premature ovarian failure (POF), intrauterine adhesions, Asherman syndrome (AS), recurrent implantation failure (RIF), repeat implantation failure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, preeclampsia, and clinical trials. The collected articles were added to EndNote X7, and review articles along with duplicate studies were eliminated. Several studies have indicated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells, autologous platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction, and umbilical cord stem cells can be used to treat reproductive diseases, including POF, AS, and RIF. PCOS, endometriosis, and preeclampsia were deleted from the study, because there were no clinical cell therapy studies for these diseases. Among the 210 studies, 28 were selected as eligible for further evaluation. Various clinical trials have supported the role of cell therapy in treating reproductive disorders. Although the information from this systematic review is promising, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these and other cells in treating infertility.

Implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a potential non-surgical option for cartilage repair. Currently, its clinical use largely focuses on focal cartilage defect repair and intra-articular injections in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Most studies have looked at the efficacy of MSCs from autologous sources, which can be limited by inter-patient variability of age, diseases, sites and methods of harvest. This systematic review aims to evaluate studies that focus on allogeneic MSCs implantation versus placebo in patients with knee OA to summarise the efficacy and safety of allogeneic MSCs in knee OA.

The association of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) with cardiac function outcomes and treatment outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with low ejection fraction (EF) has been heterogeneous across studies. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of BMSCs on functional, clinical, quality of life, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) outcomes in HF patients with low EF. PubMed, Scopus, Clinicaltrial.gov, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Web and reference databases were searched for articles that examined the effect of BMSCs therapy on improving cardiac outcomes in patients with low EF, from 2000 to 2024. Differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), MACE, echocardiographic indices (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV)), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and immunologic responses were defined as outcomes. Low EF was defined as an EF <45%. Finally, 14 RCTs involving 710 HF patients with low EF were included. BMSCs transplantation was associated with improvements in echocardiographic parameters, EF rate, and NYHA class in most studies (9 of 14) compared to the control group, regardless of the time of outcome assessment (3 or 6 months). It also significantly improved the 6-MWT in most studies. Improvements in parameters and functional outcomes were similar at both evaluation periods, 6 and 12 months. The BMSCs transplantation was not significantly associated with the incidence of MACE and immunological responses. The results of this systematic review supported the positive role of BMSCs transplantation in improving echocardiographic parameters, EF rate, NYHA class, and 6-MWT in HF patients with low EF. BMSCs transplantation was not significantly associated with the incidence of MACE and immunological responses.

Current treatments for demyelinating disorders focus on slowing progression but fail to repair damaged myelin. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) -based technology has the potential to address key challenges in myelin repair by targeting genetic dysfunctions, modulating immune responses, and promoting oligodendrocyte differentiation. This systematic review aimed to evaluate CRISPR applications for myelin regeneration.

This study was undertaken to systematically evaluate the efficacy of cell therapy in reducing seizures in animal models of chronic epilepsy. Three databases, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Web of Science, were searched using predetermined eligibility criteria. The relevant preclinical controlled studies were included for review and meta-analysis using a random-effects model to calculate summary estimates of the effect size (percentage reduction in seizures). The degree of heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. Subgroup meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to further elucidate the sources of heterogeneity. Thirty published studies met the eligibility criteria, including a total of 1306 animals. The majority of studies used kainic acid and pilocarpine status epilepticus models of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The random effects model revealed an overall reduction in seizure frequency of 54.8% (95% confidence interval = 48.0558-61.5455) compared to the control, and the heterogeneity was 87.1% among the included studies. The meta-regression revealed that seven study characteristics significantly accounted for the between-study heterogeneity. They can be grouped into three broad categories: epilepsy-specific, animal-specific, and cell transplantation-specific. The greatest seizure reduction was observed in the post-kainic acid status epilepticus model of chronic MTLE, when the cells were delivered intravenously and when the seizure reduction was measured as seizure frequency. Embryonic stem cell transplantation showed the greatest efficacy in reducing seizures. Cell transplantation shows favorable efficacy as a treatment that can reduce seizure recurrence in chronic animal models of epilepsy. High heterogeneity between studies reflects the diverse methodologies employed in preclinical research on cell therapy for epilepsy. Despite these encouraging findings, the high risk of publication bias and variability in study design emphasize the need for further robust preclinical studies to confirm these reported outcomes.

This study used meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus apatinib in the treatment of solid tumors.

There is concern from in-vitro studies that adipose-derived stem cells could promote cancer recurrence through their proliferative properties. The impact of immediate lipofilling (ILF) in the setting of breast conserving surgery (BCS) on oncological outcomes, complications and patient-reported outcomes are unknown.

Animal studies have demonstrated the ability of stem cell therapy (SCT) to treat diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the efficacy of SCT in patients with DKD remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy of SCT in patients with DKD.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of arthritis-related morbidity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as living biopharmaceuticals, have emerged as a potential treatment option due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and prevalent primary malignant brain tumor in adults, marked by poor prognosis and high invasiveness. Traditional GBM invasion assays, such as those involving mouse brain xenografts, are often time-consuming and limited in efficiency. In this context, stem cell-derived neural organoids (NOs) have emerged as advanced, three-dimensional, human-relevant platforms that mimic the cellular architecture and microenvironment of the human brain. These models provide novel opportunities to investigate glioblastoma stem cell invasion, a critical driver of tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) in bone regeneration, with subgroup analyses based on EV source, dose, and delivery route.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is largely driven by inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show therapeutic potential; however, their efficacy across CKD etiologies remains unclear.

This study aimed to systematically investigate the efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in complex anal fistula treatment.

Stem cell-derived exosomes (SC-Exos) represent an innovative therapeutic breakthrough that circumvents key limitations of direct stem cell transplantation, demonstrating significant therapeutic potential while offering distinct advantages including reduced ethical controversies, decreased immunogenicity responses, and minimized tumorigenicity risks. This review provides a systematic analysis of SC-Exos research, encompassing diverse aspects from fundamental biological mechanisms and isolation and characterization techniques to advanced engineering strategies and therapeutic applications. The review elucidates the biological foundations of exosomes, analyzes different SC-Exos types and their unique characteristics, and explores multiple functional optimization strategies to enhance SC-Exos performance. Comprehensive biomedical engineering applications of SC-Exos across diverse therapeutic domains are presented, covering tissue engineering, advanced drug delivery systems, and treatments for cardiovascular, neurological, oncological, immunological, inflammatory, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and dermatological diseases, as well as other emerging applications. Clinical translation status is evaluated through analysis of current trials, revealing favorable safety profiles and promising preliminary efficacy of SC-Exos across multiple therapeutic domains. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in standardization of isolation and purification techniques, quality control measures, therapeutic heterogeneity, scalable production capabilities, and comprehensive biosafety evaluation protocols. Future research priorities include establishing unified isolation and purification standards, developing comprehensive functional evaluation systems, optimizing administration routes and dosing regimens, and conducting large-scale multicenter clinical trials. This review provides systematic guidance for advancing effective SC-Exos-based therapeutic solutions, ultimately facilitating their clinical translation and expanding applications across biomedical challenges.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to severe motor and sensory impairments, and current treatment methods have not achieved complete neural repair. In recent years, exosomes have become a research focus in the treatment of nerve injuries due to their important roles in intercellular information transfer, immune regulation, and neural repair. Our study conducts a scientometric analysis to map the research landscape related to exosomes in SCI.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative neoplasm, is characterized by the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene, which results in constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved CML outcomes, resistance and the persistence of leukemic stem cells remain major clinical challenges. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, has demonstrated potential anticancer properties. This review explores curcumin's effects on CML cell lines, focusing on its mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential. A systematic literature search was conducted in December 2024 across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review included original in vitro studies examining curcumin's anti-leukemic effects on human CML cell lines. Data was extracted and synthesized narratively due to methodological variability. Of 869 screened articles, 21 in vitro studies met the inclusion criteria. Curcumin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in CML cell lines, particularly K562. Key mechanisms included inhibition of protein kinase C alpha (PKCα), Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), BCR-ABL1 signaling, and histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) expression, as well as modulation of microRNA-21 (miR-21), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 (SOCS1/3) pathways. Curcumin also triggered cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and promoted autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, curcumin derivatives such as pentagamavunon-1 (PGV-1) and compound 1206 (C1206) displayed enhanced potency and overcame resistance in imatinib-resistant CML cells. Curcumin demonstrates multi-targeted anti-leukemic activity in vitro, disrupting oncogenic signaling, epigenetic regulation, and redox balance in CML cells. Its ability to sensitize resistant cells and enhance apoptotic pathways positions it as a promising adjunct to current CML therapies. However, clinical translation requires further investigation to overcome pharmacokinetic limitations and validate efficacy in vivo.

Myocardial infarction (MI), the leading cause of human mortality, is induced by a sudden interruption of blood supply. Among various stem cell types, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are novel and valid cell sources for the restoration of vascularization in the ischemic tissue. The present study aimed to evaluate the regenerative properties of EPCs in rodent models of MI.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) offer a multifaceted approach to treating immune-mediated skin diseases by modulating the immune system and promoting tissue regeneration. Specifically, their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts, modulate immune responses, and release growth factors and cytokines underscores their potential in treating a wide range of immune-related skin conditions. ADMSCs significantly reduced various aspects of psoriasis, including scaling, thickness, and erythema. Moreover, cell-free therapy has even better therapeutic potential. It has been shown that ADMSC-derived exosomes can effectively alleviate pathological symptoms of atopic dermatitis, including clinical score, serum IgE levels, eosinophil amount, and infiltration of immune cells in skin lesions. This systematic review summarizes the most relevant preclinical and clinical studies on the therapeutic use of ADMSCs and their small extracellular vesicles in the treatment of common skin diseases like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, localized scleroderma and acne vulgaris.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, leading to neurodegeneration and disability. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has emerged as a promising approach due to its immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties.