Evaluating the Safety of Intra-Articular Mitotherapy in the Equine Model: A Potential Novel Treatment for Osteoarthritis.

The research deals with a potential new treatment for osteoarthritis in horses, which involves injecting mitochondria into the joint. The study was undertaken to ascertain the safety of this procedure, with encouraging results.

Research Purpose and Methodology

• The study investigates a potential new form of treatment for osteoarthritis, a chronic condition affecting both humans and horses for which there is currently no treatment that can halt its progression completely. Incorporating the use of mitochondria, the supposed treatment could potentially improve cell metabolism and reduce inflammation. However, its safety in horses hadn’t been established, prompting this study.
• The researchers isolated blood-autologous mitochondria using a commercial kit and injected this into the left carpus joint of three horses. The animals were then closely monitored for a 28-day period.
• The observation involved physical examinations, video-recorded gait evaluations, joint diameter measurements, synovial fluid collection, and blood collection. The assessments were carried out on day 0 (prior to the procedure and on the day of the mitochondria injection), and then on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28.

Data Collection and Evaluation

• Measurements of systemic inflammation were carried out through a complete blood count, fibrinogen, and plasma serum amyloid A (SAA).
• Local inflammation was gauged through synovial fluid cytology and physical examination parameters.

Results

• Following the procedure, physical exam parameters remained stable and no swelling was observed in the joints. Additionally, a blinded evaluator found no change in video recorded gait evaluations.
• No significant increase in white blood cells was detected, indicating no systemic inflammation. SAA increased mildly in one horse, and fibrinogen was slightly elevated above the reference range in two horses at day 7, but subsequently normalized.
• Slight increases in synovial fluid nucleated cell counts and total protein were observed on days 1 and 3, but they resolved themselves within a week without any intervention.

Conclusion

• The injection of autologous mitochondria into the equine intercarpal joint appeared safe, with no signs of inflammation. This critical safety information paves the way for future studies to evaluate the efficacy of this novel approach to treating osteoarthritis.