Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 28 March 2025
Background: This paper focuses on comparing amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) as a potential therapy to combat cytokine storm. Cytokine storm is an excessive immune response associated with severe illnesses, including COVID-19. MSCs from various sources have been studied for their ability to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. UC-MSCs have shown promising results in increasing survival rates in patients with cytokine storm.
Objective: This study aims to compare the transcriptomic profiles of AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs to better understand their molecular characteristics and evaluate their relative potential in treating cytokine storm.
Methods: The researchers used next-generation RNA sequencing (NGS) to analyze the transcriptome of MSCs isolated from amniotic fluid obtained during prenatal diagnosis. For comparison, they used publicly available datasets for UC-MSCs. A comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to identify suitable GEO and NGS datasets for direct comparison between the two cell types. The study focused on identifying genes and biological pathways that are different or similar between AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs, particularly those related to immune regulation, inflammatory signaling, and cell interaction.
Results: The study conducted a detailed transcriptomic analysis to compare the genetic characteristics of AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs. The results identified specific genes and biological pathways that were expressed differently or similarly between these two types of stem cells. These findings provide detailed information about the molecular mechanisms that may underlie the potential therapeutic effects of AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs in controlling cytokine storm.
Conclusions: This study provides a direct comparison at the molecular level between AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs in the context of their potential application for treating cytokine storm. By identifying the differences and similarities in their gene expression profiles, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the unique characteristics of each type of stem cell. This information can help guide decisions in selecting the most appropriate source of MSCs for specific therapeutic applications aimed at combating excessive inflammatory conditions like cytokine storm.
Significance: This research is of significant importance in developing more effective stem cell-based therapies for treating diseases related to immune dysregulation, especially in the context of pandemics like COVID-19, where cytokine storm plays a key role in pathogenesis. The direct comparison between AF-MSCs and UC-MSCs provides a scientific basis for evaluating their relative potential and may guide future preclinical and clinical studies.
References
The article was translated and summarized from the research paper: Vaiasicca, S., James, D. W., Melone, G., Saeed, O., Francis, L. W., & Corradetti, B. (2025). Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic tool against cytokine storm: a comparison with umbilical cord counterparts. Stem cell research & therapy, 16(1), 151. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04262-0
Source: Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Link: https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13287-025-04262-0
