The Usefulness of Mesenchymal Stem Cells beyond the Musculoskeletal System in Horses.
Authors: Cequier Alina, Sanz Carmen, Rodellar Clementina, Barrachina Laura
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have traditionally been considered primarily for musculoskeletal repair in horses, but emerging research demonstrates their therapeutic potential extends far beyond ligament and bone injuries through paracrine signalling mechanisms that modulate inflammation and immune function. This 2021 review synthesised current evidence on MSC applications in equine conditions including ophthalmological and reproductive disorders, respiratory disease (equine asthma), metabolic dysfunction, endotoxaemia, wound healing, laminitis, and neurological pathologies—areas considerably less explored than orthopaedic use. Whilst preliminary findings are encouraging across these diverse pathologies, the authors emphasise that clinical translation remains limited by insufficient rigorous data, meaning practitioners should currently view most non-musculoskeletal MSC applications as investigational rather than established treatments. The parallels between equine and human disease mechanisms create meaningful opportunities for translational research, particularly in conditions like laminitis and metabolic syndrome where equine models could advance understanding of analogous human pathologies. For equine professionals, this review highlights that whilst MSC therapy shows promise for inflammatory and systemic disorders, robust clinical evidence and controlled trials are still needed before these applications can be recommended as standard practice.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •MSC therapy is emerging as a potential treatment for multiple equine conditions beyond joint and tendon injuries, but clinical protocols are not yet standardized for routine use
- •The horse serves as a valuable translational model for human diseases due to similarities in disease pathogenesis, particularly for wound healing, laminitis, and metabolic disorders
- •Current evidence supports further research but practitioners should await robust clinical trials before adopting MSC therapies for non-musculoskeletal conditions in their practice
Key Findings
- •Mesenchymal stem cell paracrine activity extends therapeutic application beyond musculoskeletal injuries to inflammatory and immune-mediated pathologies in equine medicine
- •Ophthalmologic and reproductive disorders are among the most studied conditions for MSC application in horses
- •Equine laminitis, asthma, metabolic syndrome, and endotoxemia represent underexplored but promising targets for MSC therapy with translational potential to human medicine
- •Available clinical evidence remains preliminary and requires further development before translating MSC results into routine clinical practice