Written based on 27 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.
The claim
Posts online say that stem cell treatment helps with rheumatoid arthritis.
Where research stands
We found 169 published papers on stem cell treatment and rheumatoid arthritis in PubMed. They were published between 1997 and 2027. 8 of them are studies in people. 2 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 51 were studies in animals, and 2 were only in cells in the lab. 86 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 1 paper was retracted. 7 new studies in people are running or will start soon, says the trial register ClinicalTrials.gov.
- 8In people2 with a comparison group
- 51In animals
- 2Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Stem cell treatment has been tested in randomised trials in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Mesenchymal stem cells combined with IFN-γ treatment versus mesenchymal stem cells monotherapy: safety and efficacy over five years extension follow-up.2025 · Stem Cell Res Ther · Randomised trial
- Cervus and cucumis peptides combined umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.2020 · Medicine (Baltimore) · Randomised trial
- Long-term safety of intravenous human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a 5-year follow-up study.2026 · Stem Cells Transl Med · Study in people
- Allogeneic bone marrow derived clonal mesenchymal stromal cells in refractory rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.2024 · Regen Med · Study in people
- The Sufficient Immunoregulatory Effect of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation on Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis.2020 · J Immunol Res · Study in people
- Risk assessment of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients. A TBNET study.2014 · Am J Respir Crit Care Med · Study in people
- Intensive immunosuppression and autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis: the Leiden experience.2001 · J Rheumatol Suppl · Study in people
- Autologous stem cell transplantation for rheumatoid arthritis--interim report of 6 patients.2001 · J Rheumatol Suppl · Study in people
- Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myeloma: a case-based narrative literature review.2026 · Clin Rheumatol · Review
- Systemic regulation of rheumatoid arthritis by mesenchymal stem cells: from immune homeostasis to microbiota modulation.2026 · Front Immunol · Review
- Cellular stress, cell death, and extracellular vesicles: redefining the therapeutic landscape of rheumatoid arthritis.2026 · Clin Rheumatol · Review
- Dental Pulp-Derived Stem Cells in Mitigating Inflammatory Arthritis and Their Mechanisms in Conjunction with Oral Diseases.2026 · Adv Exp Med Biol · Review
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Exosomal microRNAs.2025 · Biologics · Review
- Development of mesenchymal stem cells: therapeutic effect and prospect for rheumatoid arthritis.2025 · Stem Cell Res Ther · Review
- The miR-6538 in extracellular vesicles derived from lycorine-pretreated mesenchymal stem cells enhances therapeutic efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis.2027 · Biomaterials · In animals
- Nano-armor empowers mesenchymal stem cells to actively target and reverse synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.2026 · Acta Biomater · In animals
- Corrigendum to: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells relieve rheumatoid arthritis by blocking JAK/STAT and TLR-4/NF-?B pathways.2026 · Pak J Pharm Sci · In animals
- Therapeutic effects of hUC-MSCs on collagen-induced arthritis are associated with immune rebalancing and systemic metabolic changes.2026 · Clin Rheumatol · In animals
- Mobilizing stem cells and inhibition of autoimmunity synergistically modify autoimmune disease to relieve pain: a potential MRG-001 therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.2026 · Int J Surg · In animals
- Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells relieve rheumatoid arthritis by blocking JAK/STAT and TLR-4/NF-κB pathways.2026 · Pak J Pharm Sci · In animals
- Inflammatory Mesenchymal Stem Cells Express Abundant Membrane-Bound and Soluble Forms of C-Type Lectin-like CD248.2023 · Int J Mol Sci · In the lab
- Curcumin-Loaded Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Efficiently Attenuate Proliferation and Inflammatory Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.2023 · Appl Biochem Biotechnol · In the lab
- Exosomes derived from fibrinogen-like protein 1-overexpressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis.2022 · Bioengineered · RetractedRetracted
- JAK-STAT3-MYC axis defines pathogenic stem cell-like memory CD4+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis.2026 · Clin Immunol · Other paper
- Systemic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for reduction of inflammatory burden in a patient with juvenile-onset rheumatoid arthritis and dialysis-dependent renal failure.2026 · Croat Med J · Other paper
- Statement of Retraction: Exosomes derived from fibrinogen-like protein 1-overexpressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis.2026 · Bioengineered · Other paper
- Corrigendum to "Therapeutic effects of methotrexate encapsulated in hyaluronic acid-coated exosomes derived from Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis" [Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1015, 15 (February 2026), 178610].2026 · Eur J Pharmacol · Other paper
