Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Properties, Sources, Characterization, and Potential Therapeutic Applications.
Abstract: Properties like sustained multiplication and self-renewal, and homing and multilineage differentiation to undertake repair of the damaged tissues make stem cells the lifeline for any living system. Therefore, stem cell therapy is regarded to carry immense therapeutic potential. Though the dearth of understanding about the basic biological properties and pathways involved in therapeutic benefits currently limit the application of stem cells in humans as well as animals, there are innumerable reports that suggest clinical benefits of stem cell therapy in equine. Among various stem cell sources, currently adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are preferred for therapeutic application in horse owing to their easy availability, capacity to modulate inflammation, and promote healing. Also the cells carry very limited teratogenic risk compared to the pluripotent stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells were earlier considered mainly for musculoskeletal tissues, but now may also be utilized in other diverse clinical problems in horse, and the results may be extrapolated even for human medicine. The current review highlights biological properties, sources, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic applications of stem cells in equine practice.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-10-24 PubMed ID: 30929778DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.10.007Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article provides an analysis of the properties, sources, characterization and potential applications of equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in therapeutic settings. The study shows that MSCs, due to their self-renewing, multiplicative, inflammation modulating, and healing properties, may hold great promise in treating a variety of clinical problems in horses and may have applications in human medicine.
Biological Properties of MSCs
- The key biological properties of stem cells, which include their ability to multiply, self-renewal, home and differentiate into multi-lineages, makes them invaluable in the repair of damaged tissues.
- Among various types of stem cells, adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are preferred in equine therapy because of their ease of accessibility, ability to control inflammation and facilitate healing.
- Unlike pluripotent stem cells, MSCs have a much lower risk of leading to abnormal cell growth or teratogenesis (formation of abnormalities during development).
- Although MSCs have been mainly considered for their applications in musculoskeletal tissues, they might also be utilized for a wide range of clinical issues in equine practice.
Sources and Mechanisms of MSCs
- The source of MSCs is important and is currently considered to be derived from adult tissues, predominantly due to their abilities and fewer risks compared to other forms of stem cells, such as embryonic or pluripotent stem cells.
- Key mechanisms involved with these cells include their ability to self-renew, to multiply, and to differentiate into varied cell lines, which allows them to be capable of repairing damaged tissues.
Potential Therapeutic Applications
- Stem cell therapy, particularly utilizing MSCs, has shown great potential in equine therapy, with numerous reports indicating clinical benefits through their use.
- Although a comprehensive biological understanding and pathway analyses are still lacking, it still presents a promising area for more extensive studies and application.
- The potential of this therapeutic implication is not limited to equine therapy, but the understanding and results can be extrapolated for use in human medicine as well.
Cite This Article
APA
Gugjoo MB, Amarpal , Makhdoomi DM, Sharma GT.
(2018).
Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Properties, Sources, Characterization, and Potential Therapeutic Applications.
J Equine Vet Sci, 72, 16-27.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2018.10.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Surgery, Indian Veterinary Research Institute-Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP, India. Electronic address: mbgugjoo@gmail.com.
- Division of Surgery, Indian Veterinary Research Institute-Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP, India.
- Division of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India.
- Division of Physiology and Climatology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute-Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP, India.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Adult Stem Cells
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation
- Horses
- Humans
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Pluripotent Stem Cells
- Stem Cell Transplantation / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 23 times.- Bungărdean D, Pall E, Daradics Z, Popescu M, Tripon MA, Lupșan AF, Crecan CM, Morar IA, Nicolescu A, Bora FD, Marcus I. In Vitro Effects of PRP, Ozonized PRP, Hyaluronic Acid, Paracetamol, and Polyacrylamide on Equine Synovial Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Life (Basel) 2025 Oct 4;15(10).
- de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Maia L, Barberini DJ, Takahira RK, de Vasconcelos Machado VM, Machado GF, de Melo GD, Amorim RM. Feasibility and safety of intrathecal transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in horses. Vet Res Commun 2025 Sep 29;49(6):333.
- Orzoł D, Kępska M, Zyzak M. Orientin Reverses Premature Senescence in Equine Adipose Stromal Cells Affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome Through Oxidative Stress Modulation. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Jul 17;26(14).
- Morawska-Kozłowska M, Pitas M, Zhalniarovich Y. Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Veterinary Medicine-Still Untapped Potential. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 19;15(8).
- Wong YS, Mançanares AC, Navarrete F, Poblete P, Mendez-Pérez L, Cabezas J, Riadi G, Rodríguez-Alvarez L, Castro FO. Extracellular vesicles secreted by equine adipose mesenchymal stem cells preconditioned with transforming growth factor β-1 are enriched in anti-fibrotic miRNAs and inhibit the expression of fibrotic genes in an in vitro system of endometrial stromal cells fibrosis. Vet Q 2024 Dec;44(1):1-11.
- Cequier A, Vázquez FJ, Vitoria A, Bernad E, Fuente S, Serrano MB, Zaragoza MP, Romero A, Rodellar C, Barrachina L. The systemic cellular immune response against allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells is influenced by inflammation, differentiation and MHC compatibility: in vivo study in the horse. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1391872.
- Ivanova Z, Petrova V, Grigorova N, Vachkova E. Identification of the Reference Genes for Relative qRT-PCR Assay in Two Experimental Models of Rabbit and Horse Subcutaneous ASCs. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Feb 14;25(4).
- Tamura N, Heidari N, Faragher RGA, Smith RKW, Dudhia J. Effects of resveratrol and its analogues on the cell cycle of equine mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. J Equine Sci 2023 Sep;34(3):67-72.
- Jiang L, Lu J, Chen Y, Lyu K, Long L, Wang X, Liu T, Li S. Mesenchymal stem cells: An efficient cell therapy for tendon repair (Review). Int J Mol Med 2023 Aug;52(2).
- Yasumura Y, Teshima T, Nagashima T, Takano T, Michishita M, Taira Y, Suzuki R, Matsumoto H. Immortalized Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Novel Candidate Cell Source for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Jan 23;24(3).
- Ranjbaran M, Kianian F, Kadkhodaee M, Seifi B, Ashabi G, Akhondzadeh F, Adelipour M, Izad M, Abdolmohammadi K. Mesenchymal stem cells and their conditioned medium as potential therapeutic strategies in managing comorbid anxiety in rat sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Iran J Basic Med Sci 2022 Jun;25(6):690-697.
- Supokawej A, Korchunjit W, Wongtawan T. The combination of BMP12 and KY02111 enhances tendon differentiation in bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-eMSCs). J Equine Sci 2022 Jul;33(2):19-26.
- Sharun K, Jambagi K, Kumar R, Gugjoo MB, Pawde AM, Tuli HS, Dhama K, Amarpal. Clinical applications of adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in veterinary practice. Vet Q 2022 Dec;42(1):151-166.
- Soukup R, Gerner I, Gültekin S, Baik H, Oesterreicher J, Grillari J, Jenner F. Characterisation of Extracellular Vesicles from Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022 May 23;23(10).
- Mund SJK, MacPhee DJ, Campbell J, Honaramooz A, Wobeser B, Barber SM. Macroscopic, Histologic, and Immunomodulatory Response of Limb Wounds Following Intravenous Allogeneic Cord Blood-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Horses. Cells 2021 Nov 1;10(11).
- Nino-Fong R, Esparza Gonzalez BP, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Montelpare W, McDuffee L. Development of a biologically immortalized equine stem cell line. Can J Vet Res 2021 Oct;85(4):293-301.
- Meeremans M, Van de Walle GR, Van Vlierberghe S, De Schauwer C. The Lack of a Representative Tendinopathy Model Hampers Fundamental Mesenchymal Stem Cell Research. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021;9:651164.
- Cequier A, Sanz C, Rodellar C, Barrachina L. The Usefulness of Mesenchymal Stem Cells beyond the Musculoskeletal System in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;11(4).
- Tomlinson JE, Jager M, Struzyna A, Laverack M, Fortier LA, Dubovi E, Foil LD, Burbelo PD, Divers TJ, Van de Walle GR. Tropism, pathology, and transmission of equine parvovirus-hepatitis. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020;9(1):651-663.
- Gugjoo MB, Hussain S, Amarpal, Shah RA, Dhama K. Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Immuno-Modulatory and Anti- Inflammatory Mechanisms in Immune and Allergic Disorders. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov 2020;14(1):3-14.
- Al Naem M, Bourebaba L, Kucharczyk K, Röcken M, Marycz K. Therapeutic mesenchymal stromal stem cells: Isolation, characterization and role in equine regenerative medicine and metabolic disorders. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020 Apr;16(2):301-322.
- Abdelrazik H, Giordano E, Barbanti Brodano G, Griffoni C, De Falco E, Pelagalli A. Substantial Overview on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Biological and Physical Properties as an Opportunity in Translational Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2019 Oct 29;20(21).
- Gugjoo MB, Fazili MR, Gayas MA, Ahmad RA, Dhama K. Animal mesenchymal stem cell research in cartilage regenerative medicine - a review. Vet Q 2019 Dec;39(1):95-120.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
