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Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cell Therapy in Horses
Introduction
Stem cell therapy and platelet rich therapy have been used in horse soft tissue injuries to address the common problem of poor healing of injuries to tendons, ligaments, and joint cartilage. Often injuries to these tissues heal with a weaker and poorly organized fibrous tissue than the original fibers or cartilage. Anything less than the normal fibro-elastic strands aligned along the lines of strain are predisposed to reinjury resulting in recurring or permanent lameness despite aggressive treatment. This article discusses the principles of platelet rich therapy and stem cell therapy, the research on the efficacy, the different methods of obtaining stem cells, how they are used in the treatment of tendonitis, desmitis, and cartilage damage in horses, and the prognosis of this type therapy.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are defined by their ability to divide through mitotic cell division and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. We call the ability to differentiate into different cell types potency.
Embryonic Stem Cells
The most obvious example of stem cells are the embryo and early blastocyst which are also the most potent of all cell lines. These cells have the ability to divide and differentiate into all the various type tissues of the body and are called totipotent. However the harvesting, replication, and differentiation of these cells is problematic due to the difficulty in procuring embryos and an inability to control the differentiation and when used results in the formation of tumors. The blastocyst rapidly differentiates into 3 different germ layers which is the beginning of the formation of the organism:
- ectoderm
- mesoderm
- endoderm
Adult Stem Cells
Several tissues of the adult horse contain small numbers of stem cells but with less capacity to differentiate than embryonic cells. Most adult stem cells have the capacity to differentiate only into related cell types, the same cell types from which the stem cells are derived and this capacity is labeled multipotent and these are the type cells used in equine medicine. Two types are the most common found: hemopoietic (blood-cell lines) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC's). Stem cells currently being used are derived from bone marrow or fat tissue.
The differentiation of the MSCs into the proper tissue type is believed to be induced by a combination of mechanical (tension) cues, growth factors, and contact with "like" cells and matrix. This stimulus is provided by implantation within the tissue.
How Are Stem Cells Obtained?
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