Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a cell-free approach in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.
Tayebeh Mohtashami, Amir Hossein Aghayan, Alireza Masoudi et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) in preclinical models of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The analysis included five studies and found that MSC-EV treatment significantly improved sociability (SMD = 1.34) and reduced repetitive behaviors (SMD = -1.12), while also modulating neuroinflammation.
Key findings
- MSC-EV treatment improved sociability with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 1.34.
- Repetitive behaviors were reduced with an SMD of -1.12.
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-a decreased significantly, with SMDs of -2.28 and -1.22, respectively.
- IL-10 levels increased with an SMD of 0.58.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that MSC-EVs could represent a novel, cell-free therapeutic approach for managing core symptoms of ASD and addressing neuroinflammation, which may enhance treatment options for this complex disorder.
What to keep in mind
The review is limited by the small number of studies and the heterogeneity among them.