Stem cells

Tendinitis of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) represents a major cause of injury in the equine athlete. Although numerous treatments have been described, few are effective and a great potential remains for recurrence and, in certain cases, an abrupt end to the horse.

Category: Equine - Lameness - Stem cells

There has been unprecedented interest in recent years in the use of stem cells as therapy for an array of diseases in companion animals. Stem cells have already been deployed therapeutically in a number of clinical settings, in particular the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat osteoarthritis in horses and dogs. However, an assessment of the scientific literature highlights a marked disparity between the purported benefits of stem cell therapies and their proven abilities as defined by rigorously controlled scientific studies.
 

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: Cristina L. Esteves, Ruchi Sharma, Lucy Dawson, Sarah E. Taylor, Gemma Pearson, John A. Keen, Kieran McDonald, Christine Aurich, F. Xavier Donadeu
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Expression of several putative markers of pluripotency (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, LIN28A, REX1, DNMT3B and TERT) was examined in a range of equine tissues, including early embryos, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), testis, adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and keratinocytes. Transcript levels of all markers were highest in embryos and iPSCs and, except for SOX2, were very low or undetectable in keratinocytes. Mean expression levels of all markers were lower in testis than in embryos or iPSCs and, except for DNMT3B, were higher in testis than in MSCs.

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: Luisa Pascucci, Giulio Alessandri, Cecilia Dall'Aglio, Francesca Mercati, Paola Coliolo, Cinzia Bazzucchi, Sara Dante, Stefano Petrini, Giovanni Curina, Piero Ceccarelli
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest, due to several distinctive features, including the ability to migrate to damaged tissue and to participate in tissue regeneration. There is increasing evidence that membrane vesicles (MVs), comprising exosomes and shedding vesicles, represent a key component, responsible for many of the paracrine effects of MSCs.

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: Celine A. Bourzac, DVM, MS; Judith B. Koenig, DVM, DVSc; Kaitlyn A. Link; Stephanie G. Nykamp, DVM; Thomas G. Koch, DVM, PhD
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research

Objective—To evaluate the efficacy and effects of labeling equine umbilical cord blood (UCB)– and bone marrow (BM)–derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) contrast agent and the detection of labeled MSCs by use of MRI.

Sample—UCB MSCs from placental tissues of 5 foals and BM MSCs from 5 horses.

Category: Equine - MRI - Stem cells - Tendon
Authors: D. Murata, D. Miyakoshi, T. Hatazoe, N. Miura, S. Tokunaga, M. Fujiki, K. Nakayama, K. Misumi
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Cartilage regeneration with cell therapy following arthroscopic surgery could be used in racehorses with intra-articular fractures (IAF) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). The aims of this study were to investigate the origin and multipotency of stromal cells in the synovial fluid (SF) of horses with intra-articular injury and synovitis, and to provide a new strategy for regeneration of lost articular cartilage. Mesenchymal stromal cells were isolated from SF of horses with IAF and OCD.

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: Ivone Bruno, Rudy Martinez, Amir Sanchez, Carl Friddle, Scott R. McClure
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

The objective of this study was to compare nucleated cell fractions and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue to bone marrow processed by a point-of-care device that are available for immediate implantation. A paired comparison using adipose and bone marrow from five horses was done. The number of nucleated cells, viability, total adherent cells on day 6 of culture and colony-forming unit fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) were determined.

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: A. M. Carvalho, A. L. M. Yamada, M. A. Golim, L. E. C. Álvarez, C. A. Hussni and A. L. G. Alves
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal

Summary

Reasons for performing study

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to treat equine tendonitis with promising results; however, little is known about the potential migration of these cells.

Objectives

To assess the possible migration of MSCs from an implantation site in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) to a lesion in the SDFT of the contralateral limb.

Category: Equine - Stem cells - Tendon
Authors: J. L. Carter-Arnold, N. L. Neilsen, L. L. Amelse, A. Odoi and M. S. Dhar
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal

Summary
Reasons for performing the study

Stem cell therapies are used routinely in equine practice. Most published reports characterise stem cells derived from younger horses; however, middle-aged horses are often in athletic performance, and experience degenerative medical conditions. Thus, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from this group should be investigated.
Objective

Category: Equine - Stem cells
Authors: A. E. Watts
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education

Stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal disorders are becoming commonplace in the horse. In order to decipher the many options available for stem cell therapy and interpret results of accumulating experimental and clinical data, practitioners should have a basic understanding of stem cells.

Category: Equine - Stem cells