Revealing the Therapeutic Potential of Muscle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells: An In Vitro Model for Equine Laminitis Based on Activated Neutrophils, Anoxia-Reoxygenation, and Myeloperoxidase.
Authors: Serteyn Didier, Storms Nazaré, Mouithys-Mickalad Ange, Sandersen Charlotte, Niesten Ariane, Duysens Julien, Graide Hélène, Ceusters Justine, Franck Thierry
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine laminitis remains one of the most economically and clinically significant conditions in practice, yet therapeutic options remain limited; this research examined whether muscle-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MDMSCs) could counteract the inflammatory cascade that damages the sensitive laminae. Using an in vitro model that combined anoxia-reoxygenation stress with activated neutrophil supernatants—mimicking the ischaemic and inflammatory environment of acute laminitis—researchers exposed equine keratinocytes to these insults and measured metabolic activity alongside myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as markers of cellular damage and inflammatory burden. Critically, when MDMSCs were introduced during the reoxygenation phase, they restored keratinocyte metabolic activity that had declined significantly during hypoxic stress, and simultaneously suppressed the elevated MPO activity induced by neutrophil supernatant and recombinant MPO alone. These findings suggest that muscle-derived stem cell therapy may help protect the dermal-epidermal interface by dampening neutrophil-driven oxidative damage and metabolic collapse—a potentially transformative mechanism for managing acute laminitis before irreversible structural failure occurs. Whilst this in vitro evidence is encouraging, further research translating these results into equine clinical models is essential before practitioners could consider stem cell applications as adjunctive therapy alongside conventional management strategies.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Muscle-derived stem cell therapy may offer a promising treatment avenue for laminitis by reducing inflammatory damage to the dermal-epidermal interface and restoring cellular function
- •This research supports the development of regenerative medicine approaches for laminitis, potentially offering alternatives to euthanasia in severe cases
- •The protective mechanisms identified suggest stem cells work by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation markers, though clinical translation and efficacy studies are still needed
Key Findings
- •Anoxia-reoxygenation induced significant metabolic stress in equine keratinocytes, with notable decrease in metabolic activity during reoxygenation phase
- •Muscle-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells restored keratinocyte metabolic activity when added during reoxygenation, demonstrating protective effects
- •Activated neutrophil supernatant and myeloperoxidase independently increased keratinocyte myeloperoxidase activity, which was modulated by stem cell co-culture
- •The in vitro model successfully simulates key inflammatory mechanisms of equine laminitis using activated neutrophils, anoxia-reoxygenation stress, and myeloperoxidase activity