Overview

• In a phase I trial of 21 patients, 11 received periadventitial injections of their own fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells before arteriovenous fistula surgery and 10 served as controls.
• Most treated patients experienced quicker fistula maturation and greater durability, though responses varied and some did not benefit.
• RNA sequencing linked favorable outcomes to anti-inflammatory gene factors, suggesting potential biomarkers to predict responders.
• Mesenchymal stem cells are thought to aid healing through secreted growth factors and anti-inflammatory effects, addressing vein narrowing that causes about 60% of fistula failures.
• Findings were published in Science Translational Medicine (2025, doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adp7723), with investigators calling for larger, controlled studies to validate efficacy and guide patient selection.