Peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate immunomodulatory potential for therapeutic use in horses.
Authors: Longhini Ana Leda F, Salazar Tatiana E, Vieira Cristiano, Trinh Thao, Duan Yaqian, Pay Louise M, Li Calzi Sergio, Losh Megan, Johnston Nancy A, Xie Huisheng, Kim Minsu, Hunt Robert J, Yoder Mervin C, Santoro Domenico, McCarrel Taralyn M, Grant Maria B
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Electroacupuncture applied at specific acupoints can mobilise mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into peripheral blood, where they can be isolated, cultured, and subsequently reinfused as an autologous therapeutic product—eliminating the need for invasive tissue harvesting procedures. Researchers collected blood from 29 lame horses (both young and aged) and successfully isolated and expanded MSCs in vitro from 25 animals, then administered intravenous infusions at 50 × 10⁶ cells per horse to 24 subjects, with 23 completing lameness assessments using standardised AAEP scoring protocols. Treated horses demonstrated significant improvements in lameness, whilst in vitro analysis confirmed the MSCs' immunomodulatory capacity through lymphocyte suppression and interleukin-10 production; intradermal testing revealed no immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions at cell concentrations ranging from 10⁶ to 10⁴ cells. This approach offers equine practitioners a non-surgical, reproducible alternative to bone marrow or adipose tissue aspiration for obtaining therapeutic stem cells, potentially reducing cost, recovery time, and procedural complications whilst maintaining efficacy for managing performance-limiting lameness. The technique's safety profile and capacity to generate therapeutically relevant cell numbers merit further investigation in controlled clinical trials and exploration across diverse musculoskeletal conditions.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Electroacupuncture-mobilized stem cell therapy offers a non-surgical, non-pharmacological alternative for treating lameness that appears both safe and clinically effective.
- •This autologous cell therapy can be harvested via peripheral blood and expanded in vitro, making it more economical and practical than bone marrow or adipose-derived approaches.
- •The immunomodulatory properties of these MSCs (IL-10 induction, lymphocyte suppression) suggest potential benefit beyond lameness for other inflammatory conditions.
Key Findings
- •Electroacupuncture successfully mobilized mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into peripheral blood in 29 lame horses, with marked enrichment of MSCs in isolated cells.
- •Intravenous administration of 50 × 10⁶ expanded MSCs (n=24) resulted in significant improvement in lameness scores on the AAEP lameness scale.
- •Harvested MSCs demonstrated immunomodulatory function through lymphocyte proliferation inhibition and IL-10 induction.
- •Intradermal testing revealed no immediate or delayed immune reactions to MSCs at doses from 1 × 10⁶ to 1 × 10⁴, confirming safety.