Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is largely driven by inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show therapeutic potential; however, their efficacy across CKD etiologies remains unclear. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar. Effect sizes for inflammation and
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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is largely driven by inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show therapeutic potential; however, their efficacy across CKD etiologies remains unclear. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar. Effect sizes for inflammation and renal function outcomes were meta-analyzed. Results: Of 2514 studies screened, 52 met inclusion criteria (49 animal studies, 3 randomized controlled trials). In animal models, MSCs significantly reduced interleukin-6 (mean difference [MD] = −155.80; 95% CI: −249.10, −62.51;
p = 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (MD = −35.53; 95% CI: −52.75, −18.30;
p < 0.0001). In patients, TNF-α reduction was not significant (MD = −0.74; 95% CI: −2.20, 0.73;
p = 0.32). Serum creatinine decreased in animals (MD = −0.38; 95% CI: −0.46, −0.29;
p < 0.00001), but not in patients (MD = −0.59; 95% CI: −1.92, 0.74;
p = 0.39). Blood urea nitrogen decreased in animals (MD = −19.27; 95% CI: −23.50, −15.04;
p < 0.00001), and glomerular filtration rate improved (standardized MD = 1.83; 95% CI: 0.51, 3.15;
p = 0.007), with no change in patients. Conclusion: MSCs improve inflammation and renal function in CKD animal models; however, evidence in patients remains inconclusive.
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