Cui CX, Shao XN, Li YY, Qiao L, Lin JT, Guan LH. Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(8): 107717 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i8.107717]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Li-Hong Guan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Stem Cells and Biotherapy Technology Research Center of Henan, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China. lhguan2010@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Neurosciences
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Chen-Xu Cui, Xiao-Nan Shao, Yang-Yang Li, Liang Qiao, Jun-Tang Lin, Li-Hong Guan, Stem Cells and Biotherapy Technology Research Center of Henan, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China
Chen-Xu Cui, Xiao-Nan Shao, Yang-Yang Li, Liang Qiao, Jun-Tang Lin, Li-Hong Guan, Collaborative Innovation Center of Stem Cell and Biotherapy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China
Jun-Tang Lin, Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Jun-Tang Lin and Li-Hong Guan.
Author contributions: Cui CX and Shao XN performed the literature search and wrote the original manuscript; Cui CX, Shao XN, and Li YY made the figures and tables; Cui CX, Shao XN, Lin JT, and Guan LH revised the manuscript; Qiao L, Lin JT, and Guan LH were responsible for overall supervision; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Lin JT and Guan LH significantly contributed to essential aspects of the review and are co-corresponding authors of this manuscript. These contributions include joint writing and final manuscript review.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province, No. 242300421199 and No. 252300421395; Henan Province Joint Fund for Science and Technology Research and Development, No. 235101610002; Key Technologies R&D Program of Henan Province, No. 242102310134; and Henan Province Foundation for University Key Teacher, No. 2024GGJS088.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Li-Hong Guan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Stem Cells and Biotherapy Technology Research Center of Henan, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China. lhguan2010@163.com
Received: April 1, 2025 Revised: April 30, 2025 Accepted: July 4, 2025 Published online: August 26, 2025 Processing time: 145 Days and 13.6 Hours
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are characterized by the progressive loss of neuronal function and structure, leading to severe morbidity and mortality. Current therapeutic approaches are ineffective at stopping or reversing disease progression. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising candidate in research and treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered ideal candidates for regenerative medicine because of their high proliferation rate and multi-differentiation potential. MSCs can differentiate into neurons and glial cells, modulate immune responses, and reduce inflammation, and their exosomes can promote neural repair and regulate neuronal function; thus, MSCs offer unique advantages for treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, challenges remain in optimizing cell delivery methods, ensuring the long-term survival and integration of transplanted cells, and fully understanding their therapeutic effects. This article primarily outlines the functions of MSCs in neurodegenerative diseases, with the intention that further research will fully harness their potential and translate these findings into clinical applications, offering new hope for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Core Tip: This review emphasizes the incidence and social burden of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on disease pathogenesis and available therapeutic approaches. We have thoroughly investigated the potential of mesenchymal stem cells in treating neurodegenerative diseases and explored their therapeutic effects on different diseases. This review aims to elucidate how mesenchymal stem cells can alleviate neurodegenerative disease progression by modulating molecular pathways related to abnormal protein accumulation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration.
