Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by immune system dysregulation and multi-organ damage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their immunomodulatory properties, primarily mediated through their secretome (MSCS). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MSCS in SLE patients.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published between 2013 and 2024 investigating the effects of MSCS in SLE. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MSCS with placebo or standard care were included. The primary outcome was SLE disease activity, assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Secondary outcomes included immunological markers (e.g., anti-dsDNA antibodies, complement levels), quality of life, and adverse events. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.
Results: Nine RCTs (n=485 patients) met the inclusion criteria. MSCS therapy significantly reduced SLEDAI scores compared to controls (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.78, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.31, p=0.001). Significant improvements were also observed in anti-dsDNA antibody levels (SMD -0.62, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.23, p=0.002) and complement C3 levels (SMD 0.55, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.89, p=0.002). MSCS was generally well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that MSCS therapy has significant immunomodulatory effects in SLE, leading to improved disease activity and immunological profiles. Larger, well-designed RCTs with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings and assess the long-term efficacy and safety of MSCS in SLE.
Keywords
Article Details
As our aim is to disseminate original research article, hence the publishing right is a necessary one. The publishing right is needed in order to reach the agreement between the author and publisher. As the journal is fully open access, the authors will sign an exclusive license agreement.
The authors have the right to:
- Share their article in the same ways permitted to third parties under the relevant user license.
- Retain copyright, patent, trademark and other intellectual property rights including research data.
- Proper attribution and credit for the published work.
For the open access article, the publisher is granted to the following right.
- The non-exclusive right to publish the article and grant right to others.
- For the published article, the publisher applied for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
