Autologous point-of-care cellular therapies variably induce equine mesenchymal stem cell migration, proliferation and cytokine expression.

The research article investigates how autologous cell therapy products affect the function of equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It was found that these products can enhance MSC proliferation, migration, and mediator release, with varying degrees of stimulation observed. The clinical implications of these results suggest different uses for these products, either alone or in combination with MSCs for diverse lesion treatments.

Methodology

• The study used adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNs), cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNs) and platelet-rich plasma, which are all types of autologous cell therapy products.
• These products were obtained from 6 Quarter Horses, specifically from their fat, bone marrow, cord blood, and platelets.
• The researchers co-incubated these cell therapy products with bone marrow-derived MSCs in transwells to observe their effects.
• The proliferation, migration, gene expression, and cytokine concentrations of the MSCs were then determined.

Results

• The research found that all cell therapy products increased the proliferation of MSCs.
• Among all products, SVF induced the highest level of proliferation and chemotaxis in MSCs, also eliciting significant chemoinvasion alongside BMMNs.
• Stimulation with cord blood mononuclear cells resulted in the MSCs producing high concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and prostaglandin E (PGE). However, SVF and platelet lysate did not stimulate MSCs, but they themselves contained high concentrations of PGE, IL-6 (SVF), and TGF-β1 (platelet lysate).
• The results highlighted two primary patterns of how these cell therapy products stimulate MSCs. They either contained ready mediators with a potential healing function, or they stimulated the MSCs to secrete these healing mediators.

Conclusions

• The findings suggest that the specific clinical uses for these cell therapy products might differ. Some might be used as a standalone treatment option for their inherent cell and cytokine activity (like SVF) or given alongside MSCs to trigger their action for the treatment of chronic lesions (like CBMNs).
• In brief, the study demonstrated varying effects of autologous cell therapy products on the function of equine MSCs, indicating their potential role in the treatment of acute orthopedic lesions.