Table 3 Summary of main outcomes and conclusions of the included studies
Study | Intervention and control groups | Locomotor function (BBB scores) | Locomotor function (Grip strength test) | sensory function (Von Frey test) | Histological analysis | Adverse effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mi et al. 2023 a [22] | (1) SHED + iSHED group, (2) SHED group, (3) control SCI | (1) 11.60 ± 1.14 points, (2) 7.60 ± 1.14 points, (3) 2.60 ± 0.89 points | / | (1) 100% of rats recovered sensation, (2) 80% of rats recovered sensation, (3) 20% of rats recovered sensation | Highest NF, MBP, and CGRP staining area in SHED + iSHED group; lowest cavity area and lowest number of GFAP-positive cells in SHED + iSHED group | Nonimmunotoxic to major organs such as heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney |
Mi et al. 2023 b [25] | (1) hp-SHED group, (2) SHED suspension group, (3) control SCI | (1) 8.20 ± 0.84 points, (2) 6.40 ± 1.14 points, (3) 3.20 ± 0.84 points | (1) 235.40 ± 27.93 g, (2) 173.00 ± 16.70 g, (3) 107.80 ± 14.81 g | (1) 80% of rats recovered sensation, (2) 40% of rats recovered sensation, (3) 20% of rats recovered sensation | Highest NeuN, NF, MBP, and CGRP staining area in the hp-SHED group; lowest cavity area and lowest number of GFAP-positive cells in the hp-SHED group | Nonimmunotoxic to major organs such as heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney |
Chen et al. 2022 [26] | (1) ADSC group, (2) control SCI | / | / | / | Highest number of β-tubulin III-positive axons and new tissue generation at the site of injury, along with the lowest cavity area, atrophy, and GFAP expression in ADSC group | / |
Li et al. 2022 [27] | (1) NGF-overexpressing BMSC group, (2) NC-overexpressing BMSC group, (3) control SCI | (1) 9.40 ± 0.90 points, (2) 7.73 ± 1.28 points, (3) 3.22 ± 0.71 points | / | / | Largest number of Nissl bodies and highest positive expression of NGF, Tuj1, and GAP-43 in the NGF-overexpressing BMSC group; lowest cavity area in the NGF-overexpressing BMSC group | / |
Yamazaki et al., 2021 [28] | (1) BMSC group, (2) BMSC cell suspension intramedullary injection group, (3) control SCI | (1) 11.50 ± 0.60 points, (2) 9.18 ± 0.76 points, (3) 6.99 ± 0.72 points | / | (1) 48.60 ± 12.60 g, (2) 3.19 ± 1.30 g, (3) 1.60 ± 0.59 g | Lowest lesion length, lesion volume, and GFAP-positive scar area in the BMSC group; no difference in the staining of CGRP among all groups; higher FR compared with the control group, but no significant difference compared with the BMSC cell suspension intramedullary injection group | / |
Fan et al. 2020 [29] | (1) BMSC + HUVEC group, (2) BMSC group, (3) control SCI | (1) 9.58 ± 2.53 points, (2) 7.52 ± 2.29 points, (3) 7.01 ± 2.01 points | / | / | Highest number of myelinated axons and nerve fibers, the highest expression of Tuj-1, the most obvious linear staining pattern of MBP, largest LFB staining area in BMSC + HUVEC group; lowest atrophy, inflammatory response, and astrocytes, lowest expression of GFAP in BMSC + HUVEC group | Lower inflammatory reaction, no or low immunoreactivity to the host animal |
Okuda et al. 2017 [30] | (1) BMSC group, (2) control SCI | (1) 5.25 ± 0.14 points, (2) 3.00 ± 0.29 points | / | / | Highest Tuj1 and GAP43 staining area, and lowest GFAP staining area in the BMSC group | / |