Mesenchymal stem cell treatment for superficial digital flexor tendon injury in equine athletes.

摘要

Athlete horses have a high incidence of tendon injuries. We report use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s) for tendonitis in 8 male and 2 female lame quarter horse athletes diagnosed with superficial digital flexor tendonitis. MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue of a normal horse. In order to ensure cell purity and functional potential, flow cytometry was used to identify CD44, CD90, CD105, OCT3 / 4 and SOX2 proteins. The cells were injected with aid of ultrasonography into intra and/or peri-lesional regions. Clinical and image evaluations were performed before, at day 0 and 30 days after treatment. At day 30, we detected a 100% reduction of anechoic ultrasound patterns in 7 horses and 75% in 3 horses with corresponding increases in isoechoic patterns. Our results suggest that mesenchymal stem cell treatments for superficial digital flexor tendon injury in horses was beneficial but did not guarantee full recovery.