Table 2 Summary of applications of MSCs in ASD
Type of MSCs/route of administration | Type of study | Key findings | References |
|---|---|---|---|
MSC-CM/in vitro co-culture | Preclinical/primary and BV2 microglia cultured in MSC-CM | Activated microglia cultured in MSC-CM showed immunomodulatory effects of MSC-CM on microglia mediated through paracrine effects | [74] |
MSC-MVs/in vitro co-culture | Preclinical/primary and BV2 microglia co-cultured with MSC-MVs | Activated primary and BV2 microglia co-cultured with MSC-MVs showed inhibition of upregulation of proinflammatory markers and suppression of phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases and p38 MAP kinase | [75] |
BM-MSCs/intracerebroventricular transplantation | Preclinical/BTBR mice | When compared with sham-treated mice, BM-MSC-treated mice showed behavioural and cognitive improvements, increased BNDF proteins in brain tissues and neurogenesis in the hippocampus | [76] |
MSC-exo/intranasal route | Preclinical/BTBR mice | When compared with saline-treated mice, MSC-exo treated mice showed behavioural improvements. Effects of MSC-exo were mediated by membrane proteins | [78] |
MSC-exo/intranasal route | Preclinical/Shank3B KO mice | Mice treated with MSC-exo showed symptom improvements, ability of MSC-exo to cross the BBB and increased RNA expression of GABA Rb1 receptors in frontal cortex | [79] |
hUC-MSC-exo/intranasal route | Preclinical/offspring of valproic acid treated mice | Offspring of mice treated with intranasal MSC-exo showed behavioural improvements and penetration of MSC-exo in brain tissues | [80] |
Human CBMNCs and UCMSCs/intravenous and intrathecal routes | Clinical/Phase I/II study | Both CBMNCs and UCMSCs were safe and efficacious in children with ASD (n = 37; 3–12 years). Combined UCMSCs and CBMNCs transplantation showed greater therapeutic effects than CBMNCs transplantation alone | [81] |
Allogeneic hCT-MSCs/IV infusions | Clinical/Phase I study | Improvements in clinical and psychological outcomes (n = 12; 4–9 years). Presence of new anti-HLA Ab did not show clinical manifestations | [82] |
Human allogeneic UC-MCS/intravenous route | Clinical/case study | Improvements in clinical outcomes and communication abilities with no serious adverse effects in two children | [83] |