Translating Mesenchymal Stem Cell Research into Chronic Kidney Disease Therapy: A Systematic and Clinical Review

Khatami, Somayeh; Ghavidel Yazdi, Somayeh; Forouzanfar, Fatemeh; Bakhshian, Omid; Eghbali, Parnian; Saburi, Ehsan

doi:10.22034/IBJ.30.4.212

Translating Mesenchymal Stem Cell Research into Chronic Kidney Disease Therapy: A Systematic and Clinical Review

Document Type : Systematic Review

Authors

Somayeh Khatami ¹

Somayeh Ghavidel Yazdi ¹

Fatemeh Forouzanfar ²

Omid Bakhshian ¹

Parnian Eghbali ¹

Ehsan Saburi ¹^{, 3}^{, 4}

¹ Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

² Medical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

⁴ Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22034/IBJ.30.4.212

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder with high morbimortality and limited treatment options. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapy because of their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. This systematic review evaluates the therapeutic potential of MSC therapy for CKD by searching databases PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus from January 2000 to May 2026 using keywords “mesenchymal stem cells,” “cell therapy,” and “renal failure”. Among 1,525 identified studies, 19 met the inclusion criteria, covering preclinical and clinical investigations. Findings indicated contribution of MSC therapy to renal tissue repair, immunomodulation, and functional recovery, with some studies reporting improvements in glomerular filtration rate, reduced proteinuria, and histological recovery of kidney tissue. While the short-term safety profiles were favorable, the long-term efficacy and optimal administration protocols remain uncertain. Further high-quality clinical trials are needed to establish standardized treatment protocols and validate long-term benefits.

Highlights

PMID: 42728363 PMCID: PMC13648286

Keywords

Chronic kidney disease

Mesenchymal stem cells

Renal insufficiency