Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 2783-2031 47 3 2025 08 19 The potential of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a review of systematic reviews 247 260 10.34172/mj.025.34052 EN Farzaneh Forozesh https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5005-1361 Bina Eftekharsadat https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1804-7793 Arash Babaei-Ghazani https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3874-9298 Ahmadreza Badali https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0867-6307 Sina Hamzehzadeh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5344-4885 Sina Naghilou https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5639-1141 Sanam Dolati https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6257-5411 Hanieh Salehi-pourmehr https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9030-2106 Journal Article 10.34172/mj.025.34052 2025 05 11 2025 06 28 Background. Knee osteoarthritis is a common chronic disease that causes significant disability in older adults. This umbrella review, based on published systematic reviews and meta-analyses, evaluated the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. We selected systematic reviews of interventional studies in English that evaluated the effectiveness of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for knee osteoarthritis. We critically appraised systematic reviews using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results. Of the 246 database search records after removing duplicates, eight studies published between 2018 and 2023 were included in this review. The studies reported significant improvements in pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis after administration of mesenchymal stem cells with satisfactory safety issues. Conclusion. While the evidence for the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for knee osteoarthritis is promising, further research is needed to establish its role as a definitive treatment option. Practical Implications. This review's findings suggest that intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells holds promise as an effective and safe treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The limited number of primary studies and the high level of risk of bias were the main limitations of the evidence, suggesting caution in making clinical recommendations based on this study's findings.