The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Systemic Inflammation in Horses.
Authors: MacDonald Elizabeth S, Barrett Jennifer G
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess dual therapeutic potential in equine medicine: they can differentiate into multiple tissue types for regeneration and exert potent immunomodulatory effects to suppress inflammation. Whilst MSCs are already established in treating musculoskeletal injuries such as tendinopathy and cartilage damage, MacDonald and Barrett's 2019 review examines their broader application for systemic inflammatory conditions—ranging from acute, life-threatening presentations like systemic inflammatory response syndrome to chronic low-grade inflammation seen in equine asthma and recurrent uveitis. The authors identify a significant clinical gap: acute inflammatory crises often carry high mortality with no effective immunomodulatory interventions to counteract overwhelming pro-inflammatory mediator release, whilst chronic inflammatory disease management remains heavily reliant on long-term corticosteroid therapy with its attendant complications. Before MSC-based treatments can transition from promise to practice, critical questions must be resolved, including optimal cell source (bone marrow, adipose, umbilical cord), donor strategy (autologous versus allogeneic), culture conditions, route of administration, dosage and timing—with allogeneic products offering practical advantages if immune tolerance can be established safely. For equine professionals, this work highlights an emerging therapeutic frontier that could fundamentally shift how we manage both acute systemic inflammatory crises and chronic inflammatory disease, potentially reducing reliance on corticosteroids whilst improving outcomes in conditions where current options are limited.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •MSC therapy represents a promising alternative to long-term corticosteroid treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions like equine asthma and recurrent uveitis, but clinical protocols are not yet standardized for practice
- •Consider collecting and cryopreserving MSC sources (bone marrow, adipose, umbilical cord) from young or healthy horses before illness or injury occurs, as this may become standard preventative practice
- •Current clinical applications of MSCs remain primarily in musculoskeletal regeneration; expansion to systemic inflammatory conditions awaits additional research on safety, dosing, and administration protocols
Key Findings
- •Mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties with potential to treat both acute overwhelming inflammatory responses and chronic low-level inflammation in horses
- •MSCs have shown clinical efficacy in equine musculoskeletal disorders including tendinopathy, meniscal tears, and cartilage injury through tissue regeneration and differentiation capabilities
- •Current barriers to clinical MSC immunomodulatory therapy include undefined optimal tissue source, autologous versus allogeneic selection criteria, and lack of established protocols for route, dose, and timing of administration
- •Allogeneic MSC treatments are preferable for immediate clinical use but require further research on immune tolerance and safety before widespread implementation