Cellular and Humoral Immunogenicity Investigation of Single and Repeated Allogeneic Tenogenic Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatments in Horses Suffering From Tendon Injuries.
Authors: Depuydt Eva, Broeckx Sarah Y, Chiers Koen, Patruno Marco, Da Dalt Laura, Duchateau Luc, Saunders Jimmy, Pille Frederik, Martens Ann, Van Hecke Lore, Spaas Jan H
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), particularly those primed for tenogenic differentiation, show considerable promise for treating equine tendon injuries, yet their immunogenic potential—the risk of triggering an adverse immune response—remains incompletely understood. This research evaluated both cellular and humoral immunity in two cohorts: eight horses with surgically created superficial digital flexor tendon lesions treated once, and six horses with naturally occurring tendon injuries treated twice with allogeneic tenogenic primed MSCs, using mixed lymphocyte reactions, crossmatch assays, and ELISA to detect anti-cell antibodies. The findings were reassuring: no cellular immune response occurred in any horse, and only one horse (which had an equine sarcoid and pre-existing antibodies to sarcoid and stem cells) developed anti-MSC antibodies post-treatment; the remaining horses showed no humoral response regardless of single or repeated dosing. For practitioners considering MSC therapy as part of a regenerative medicine protocol for tendon injuries, these results support the safety profile of intralesional allogeneic tenogenic primed MSCs in the absence of confounding conditions, though the authors acknowledge that larger field studies are needed to confirm these encouraging findings and establish definitive safety margins across broader clinical populations.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Allogeneic MSC tendon treatments appear safe from an immune rejection standpoint—horses do not mount significant cellular or antibody responses to single or repeated doses
- •One exceptional case with pre-existing sarcoid suggests screening for immune-compromised or atypical horses may be prudent, but this is rare
- •These results support moving forward with larger clinical field trials to confirm safety and establish efficacy of MSC therapy for equine tendon injuries
Key Findings
- •No cellular immune response detected in any of the 14 horses following single or repeated allogeneic tenogenic primed MSC administration
- •Only 1 of 8 horses (12.5%) in the single-treatment study developed anti-tpMSC antibodies; this horse had pre-existing equine sarcoid and baseline antibodies against sarcoid and epithelial-like stem cells
- •No horses in the repeated-treatment study (n=6) developed anti-tpMSC antibodies
- •Allogeneic tenogenic primed MSCs demonstrate acceptable immunological safety profile for intralesional tendon treatment in horses