Single and repeated intra-articular injections in the tarsocrural joint with allogeneic and autologous equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are safe, but did not reduce acute inflammation in an experimental interleukin-1β model of synovitis.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
Summary
The research study investigated the impact of autologous and allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) on inflammation within the joints of horses, finding that neither type of BMDMSC offered an anti-inflammatory effect in an experimental model of severe synovitis.
Objective and Methodology
The researchers aimed to compare the response of inflamed equine joints to both autologous (stem cells from the same individual) and allogeneic (stem cells from a different individual) BMDMSCs, with the goal of determining if either form of treatment yielded an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Bone marrow was collected from eight horses, with both autologous and pooled allogeneic BMDMSCs being cultivated, frozen, and then thawed immediately before being used.
- Each horse had one joint treated with autologous BMDMSCs combined with 75 ng rIL-1β (a pro-inflammatory cytokine); the other joint was treated with allogeneic BMDMSCs and the same dose of rIL-1β.
- The process was then replicated, with the same treatments being given to the same joints. Four additional horses were given 75 ng rIL-1β alone to serve as controls.
Parameters and Measurements
Numerous clinical and synovial fluid parameters were monitored and measured at a series of time points after injection, including:
- Level of lameness
- Joint size and joint fluid quantity
- Synovial fluid elements, such as nucleated cell count (NCC), differential cell count, total protein (TP), prostaglandin E (PGE) and C-reactive proteins (CRP)
Results of the Study
The results suggested that there was no significant difference between the autologous and allogeneic treatment groups in terms of lameness, joint swelling, synovial fluid measures or cytological parameters. Notably, neither the autologous nor allogeneic treatments resulted in an improvement greater than that evoked by rIL-1β on its own.
Conclusions
The research found that a single dose of rIL-1β led to severe synovitis, a condition possibly too intense for any potential BMDMSC-mediated impact to be discernible. The findings showed that both types of BMDMSC treatment had equivalent clinical and cytological outcomes, which unfortunately were ineffective in reducing the inflammation caused by acute rIL-1β-triggered joint inflammation in the horses. As such, further research is needed to determine the potential therapeutic value of BMDMSCs in managing joint inflammation.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- Center for Immune and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Orthopedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Orthopedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Orthopedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Marrow
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / veterinary
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Injections, Intra-Articular / veterinary
- Interleukin-1beta
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / veterinary
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Synovial Fluid
- Synovitis / veterinary
Grant Funding
- T32 OD010437 / NIH HHS
- NIH, National Research Service Award
- Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation
- Wayne and Nancy McIlwraith Fellowship
Conflict of Interest Statement
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