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World J Stem Cells. Oct 26, 2026; 18(10): 119325
Published online Oct 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.119325
Published online Oct 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.119325
Therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in ameliorating ovarian aging: Insights from single-cell analysis
Jin-Ning Zhang, Shuang Tian, Qi Zhang, Yuan-Qing Yao, Senior Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100010, China
Jin-Ning Zhang, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100039, China
Xin-Meng Guo, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
Jin Shang, Reproductive Medical Center, The Ninth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100101, China
Co-first authors: Jin-Ning Zhang and Shuang Tian.
Author contributions: Zhang JN and Tian S contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors. Zhang JN and Tian S designed the research study, conducted experiments, and analyzed the data; Guo XM, Zhang Q, Shang J, and Yao YQ performed the research; and all authors contributed to editorial changes in the manuscript, and read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors declare that no AI tools were used in the development or writing of this manuscript and take full responsibility for its integrity, accuracy, and originality.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital, approval No. SQ2020056.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Yuan-Qing Yao, Senior Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100010, China. yao_yuanqing@126.com
Received: April 22, 2026
Revised: June 16, 2026
Accepted: October 20, 2026
Published online: October 26, 2026
Processing time: 186 Days and 21.9 Hours
Revised: June 16, 2026
Accepted: October 20, 2026
Published online: October 26, 2026
Processing time: 186 Days and 21.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study demonstrates that umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) effectively alleviate ovarian aging in aged mice and enhance oocyte quality. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that UCMSC treatment led to increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, elevated Klotho expression, and suppression of aging-related pathways. Additionally, UCMSCs improved intercellular communication within the ovary and influenced the developmental trajectory of granulosa cells. These findings elucidate the mechanisms underlying UCMSC-mediated ovarian rejuvenation and highlight their therapeutic potential for addressing age-related ovarian decline.