Evaluation of stability and safety of equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from amniotic fluid for clinical application.
Authors: Kim Eun Young, Lee Eun Ji, Kim Ryoung Eun, Kil Tae Young, Kim Min Kyu
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Amniotic fluid represents a practical source of equine mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) that retain robust biological characteristics suitable for therapeutic application, with researchers demonstrating stability across extended culture periods and confirming safety profiles acceptable for clinical use. The team isolated AF-MSCs from equine amniotic fluid and subjected them to comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic analysis, including proliferation assays, karyotyping, differentiation capacity testing across three cell lineages (adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic), and immunophenotyping alongside endotoxin quantification. AF-MSCs displayed appropriate marker expression (≥95% positive markers and ≤2% negative markers), gene expression levels at least double that of control samples, multilineage differentiation capacity, and critically, endotoxin levels well below the clinical safety threshold of 0.5 EU/ml, with no morphological, proliferative, or chromosomal abnormalities detected during long-term culture. For equine practitioners—particularly those exploring regenerative medicine applications in soft tissue and joint disease—this work validates amniotic fluid collection as a feasible alternative to more invasive tissue sources, potentially offering accessible starting material for developing autologous or allogeneic cell therapies with established safety parameters and consistent biological performance.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Amniotic fluid represents a viable, non-invasive source for obtaining equine stem cells with superior stability compared to other MSC sources, potentially simplifying procurement for therapeutic use
- •The demonstrated safety profile and lack of chromosomal abnormalities in long-term culture support the feasibility of developing AF-MSC-based therapies for equine musculoskeletal injuries
- •Practitioners considering stem cell therapy options should note this as an emerging alternative source that may reduce ethical concerns and logistical challenges associated with traditional bone marrow or adipose-derived stem cell collection
Key Findings
- •Equine amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) demonstrated successful isolation and multi-lineage differentiation capacity into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes
- •AF-MSCs maintained ≥95% expression of positive markers and ≤2% expression of negative markers, confirming mesenchymal stem cell identity
- •Long-term culture showed no abnormalities in morphology, proliferation ability, or karyotype, indicating high stability
- •Endotoxin levels were below the clinical safety threshold (0.5 EU/ml), confirming safety for potential clinical application