2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (6): 977-984

Mesenchymal stem cells for allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis based on animal experiments

Yan Le1, Zhang Huiping1, Dai Lintong2   

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Allergic rhinitis is a globally prevalent allergic disease that seriously affects people's quality of life and often has a poor clinical treatment effect. The effects of mesenchymal stem cells on allergic rhinitis animal models were systematically evaluated, hoping to provide inspiration for clinicians.
METHODS:   Articles related to the treatment of allergic rhinitis mice with mesenchymal stem cells were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese biomedical literature database, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to March 1, 2022. Data were independently extracted by two researchers. SYRCLE Animal Experiment Bias Risk Assessment table was used to evaluate the literature quality. Stata 16.0 was used for meta-analysis.  
RESULTS: A total of 152 mice were included in 6 randomized controlled animal experiments, including 51 mice in stem cell group, 51 mice in blank control group, and 50 mice in animal model control group. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that the number of sneezes in stem cell group was significantly less than that in the animal model control group [SMD=-9.83, 95%CI(-17.45,-2.22), P=0.011]. The number of nose rubbing in stem cell group was significantly less than that in the animal model control group [SMD=-13.27, 95%CI(-25.04,-1.49), P=0.027]. Serum interleukin-4 level in stem cell group was significantly smaller than that in the animal model control group [SMD=-8.23, 95%CI(-11.28, -5.17), P=0]. Serum interleukin-6 level in stem cell group was significantly smaller than that in the animal model control group [SMD=-4.27, 95%CI(-5.43,-3.10), P=0.035]. Interleukin-10 level in the spleen in stem cell group was significantly higher than that in the animal model control group [SMD=25.63, 95%CI(17.92, 33.33), P=0]. Interleukin-6 level in the spleen in stem cell group was significantly lower than that in the animal model control group [SMD=-40.64, 95%CI(-80.16, -1.13), P=0].
CONCLUSION: According to the included animal experiments, stem cells help to improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, decrease serum interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 levels and spleen interleukin-6 level, and increase spleen levels of interleukin-10. Stem cells play an important role in allergic rhinitis, and clinical trials are expected to carefully evaluate their safety and efficacy in the future.
Key words: mesenchymal stem cell, mice, allergic rhinitis, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon gamma, meta-analysis, system evaluation