Feasibility and safety of intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in horses.
Authors: Maia Leandro, da Cruz Landim-Alvarenga Fernanda, Taffarel Marilda Onghero, de Moraes Carolina Nogueira, Machado Gisele Fabrino, Melo Guilherme Dias, Amorim Rogério Martins
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow possess substantial therapeutic potential for neurological conditions in horses, owing to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, alongside capacity for self-renewal. Leandro and colleagues conducted a feasibility and safety trial of intrathecal (cerebrospinal fluid) delivery of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in horses, establishing foundational data for future clinical applications in equine neurological disease. The intrathecal transplantation procedure proved both technically feasible and well-tolerated, with horses demonstrating acceptable safety profiles following cell administration. These results provide the methodological groundwork necessary to progress towards controlled therapeutic trials, potentially opening new treatment pathways for conditions such as equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, spinal cord trauma, and other central nervous system injuries currently limited to palliative management. For practitioners managing horses with neurological compromise, this work represents an important early step towards regenerative medicine approaches, though clinical efficacy remains to be demonstrated in subsequent studies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Intrathecal MSC transplantation is a safe procedural technique that can be performed in horses without immediate complications, making it viable for future clinical trials in neurological conditions
- •This establishes a foundation for treating difficult-to-regenerate nervous system injuries, though efficacy data from larger studies is still needed
- •The low immunogenicity of autologous stem cells means rejection is not a limiting factor for this therapeutic approach
Key Findings
- •Intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells is technically feasible in horses
- •The procedure demonstrated safety with no reported adverse reactions to stem cell administration
- •Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties relevant to neurological applications