Research on the mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles in the treatment of common reproductive diseases

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Reproductive system disorders significantly contribute to infertility, and traditional or conventional treatments often have limited efficacy in addressing this issue. In recent years, stem cell therapy has emerged as an alternative therapeutic strategy owing to its various advantages. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are pivotal in tissue repair owing to their robust proliferative capacity, potent immunomodulatory effects, low immunogenicity, and paracrine actions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), the primary mediators of paracrine functions, exhibit therapeutic effects similar to those of hUC-MSCs. Consequently, numerous researchers have investigated the application of hUC-MSCs and their EVs in treating reproductive disorders. These cells have the potential to restore fertility by mitigating oxidative stress, excessive autophagy, and ferroptosis in tissues, while promoting the expression of anti-inflammatory factors and vascular remodeling. However, hUC-MSCs present significant limitations compared to EVs, including higher tumorigenicity and low infusion efficiency. Consequently, EVs may emerge as the primary alternative therapy, while hUC-MSCs hold promise as a therapeutic option with potential applications in regenerative medicine.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.