Efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of lupus nephritis: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Stem cell research & therapy Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 48
• Main Authors: Zhou, Tianbiao, Liao, Chunling, Li, Hong-Yan, Lin, Wenshan, Lin, Shujun, Zhong, Hongzhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.02.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Albumin; Analysis; Animal models; Animals; Autoimmune diseases; Bias; Bone morphogenetic proteins; Cell culture; Clinical trials; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease Models, Animal; DNA; Efficacy; Female; Foxp3 protein; Health aspects; Helper cells; Humans; Immunomodulation; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 6; Kidney diseases; Kidney failure; Kidneys; Lupus; Lupus erythematosus; Lupus nephritis; Lupus Nephritis - genetics; Lymphocytes T; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Meta-analysis; Mice; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Nephritis; Proteinuria; Renal failure; Sclerosis; Stem cells; Studies; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); Transforming growth factors; γ-Interferon; Efficacy; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); Lupus nephritis; Mesenchymal stem cells; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1757-6512; 1757-6512
• DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1538-9

Lupus nephritis is usually manifested by proteinuria, active urinary sediment, hypertension, and renal failure and is a serious complication with more than 50% occurrence in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) present remarkable immunomodulatory ability, and these cells are potential therapeutic agents for autoimmune disorders. In clinical trials, the effectiveness of MSC in the treatment of lupus nephritis is still controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to assess whether MSC can achieve good efficacy in the treatment of lupus nephritis in mice. A comprehensive literature search was performed in Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and EMBASE from inception to Oct 1, 2019. Two authors independently extracted the data, which were pooled and calculated using RevMan 5.3. A total of 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. MSC treatment resulted in lower levels of ds-DNA (OR = - 29.58, 95% CI - 29.58, - 17.99; P < 0.00001), ANA (OR = - 70.93, 95% CI - 104.55, - 37.32; P < 0.0001), Scr (OR = - 8.20, 95% CI - 12.71, - 3.69; P = 0.0004), BUN (OR = - 14.57, 95% CI - 20.50, - 8.64; P < 0.00001), proteinuria (OR = - 4.26, 95% CI - 5.15 to - 3.37; P < 0.00001), and renal sclerosis score (OR = - 1.92, 95% CI - 2.66 to - 1.18; P < 0.00001), and MSC treatment could get higher levels of albumin. To detect the potential, the cytokines were also assessed, and the MSC treatment group had lower levels of IL-2, IL-12, IL-17, and IFN-γ when compared with the control group. However, the difference was not notable for IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β, MCP-1, TNF-α, Th1, Th17, Foxp3, or Tregs. Our study confirmed that MSC treatment in an animal model for lupus nephritis in the studies included in the meta-analysis resulted in lower levels of ds-DNA, ANA, Scr, BUN, proteinuria, and renal sclerosis score, and MSC treatment could get higher levels of albumin.