The total effect on the urinary albumin/urinary creatinine ratio was analyzed, and the analysis suggested that the urinary albumin/urinary creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the MSC-treated group than in the DKD group (SMD = − 2.539, 95%CI − 3.075 to − 2.003, p < 0.001; I2 = 42.6%). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.