USE OF ALLOGENIC MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS FOR REPARATION OF TENDON AND LIGAMENT INJURIES IN EQUINE SPECIES.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have different roles in cell therapy, particularly, in veterinary field, they are used for treatment of tendon and ligaments disorders, especially in horses. The major part of papers describes autologous implantation that presents a limit not negligible, in fact, isolation and amplification of cells require about 20 days, and for this reason, it is impossible to treat promptly the patient. Allogenic use has been suggested to overcome this problem. Cells can be prepared, characterized, controlled, and banked in advance, permitting an immediately available source of MSCs ready to be used at the proper time after tissue damage. However, the major concerns about use of allogenic cells refer to their safety. Indeed, risks can be associated with both origin and handling of cells, transformation and tumorigenic characteristics and the immune response in the patient. During the research, adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) were isolated, amplified and characterized for their typical features; finally, they were investigated for tumorigenic and transforming potentialities. Immunomodulation activity was evaluated monitoring their capacity to inhibit lymphocytes proliferation in vitro. All the considered parameters provided encouraging results supporting allogenic cell therapy purposes. At this regard a clinical study was performed. Horses with tendon/ligament damages were considered and animals treated with allogenic cells associated to platelet lysate, were compared to the control group, treated with pin fearing. All animals were subjected to a rehabilitation period and their ability to resume training was evaluated. In this study, implanted allogenic ASCs caused no adverse reactions or inflammation process, neither immediately after injection nor during observation period. Finally, all patients resumed their training activity already 6 months after cell therapy approach. On the contrary, no improvement was noticed in the animals of control group (pin firing treatment); in fact 66.6% of patients were retired from their sport activity. The outcomes obtained during the study, prove the potential safety of allogenic ASCs for cell therapy purposes. Furthermore, ultrasound images evaluation and clinical observation of treated animals suggest the capacity of ASCs associated to platelet lysate to promote tissue healing. Concluding, this research could give important information about a new strategy to overcome limitations associated to classical therapies for treatment of tendon and ligaments disorders in equine species and, in addition, related to use of autologous cells in regenerative medicine.