Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Stem cell injections reduce osteoarthritis in dogs in study
By Oh, Jiwon et al.·Published in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research·2021·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Mesenchymal stem cells genetically engineered to express platelet-derived growth factor and heme oxygenase-1 ameliorate osteoarthritis in a canine model.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) received injections of genetically modified stem cells that produce a growth factor called PDGF or a protective protein called HO-1. After treatment, the dogs showed significant improvement in their symptoms, including reduced pain and better limb function. The modified stem cells helped decrease inflammation and promote cartilage repair. This suggests that using these specially engineered stem cells could be a promising new way to help dogs suffering from OA.
People also search for: dog osteoarthritis treatment · stem cell therapy for dogs · how to relieve dog joint pain
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), and MSC genetic engineering is expected to enhance cartilage repair. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of MSCs overexpressing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in chondrocytes and synovial cells with an OA phenotype and assess the in vivo efficacy of intra-articular injections of these MSCs in canine OA models. METHODS: Canine adipose-derived MSCs were transfected with canine PDGF (PDGF-MSCs) or HO-1 (HO-1-MSCs) using lentiviral vectors. Canine chondrocytes or synovial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic the inflammatory OA model and then co-cultured with MSCs, PDGF-MSCs, or HO-1-MSCs for 24 h and 72 h. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory, extracellular matrix-degradative/synthetic, or pain-related factors were measured after co-culture by real-time PCR. Furthermore, a surgery-induced canine OA model was established and the dogs were randomized into four groups: normal saline (n = 4), MSCs (n = 4), PDGF-MSCs (n = 4), and HO-1-MSCs (n = 4). The OA symptoms, radiographic OA severity, and serum matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-13 levels were assessed before and 10 weeks after treatment, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the modified MSCs. RESULTS: PDGF or HO-1 overexpression significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, MMP-13, and nerve growth factor elicited by LPS and increased that of aggrecan and collagen type 2 in chondrocytes (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of aggrecanases was significantly downregulated in synovial cells, whereas that of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases was upregulated (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the co-cultured MSCs highly expressed genes that contributed to the maintenance of joint homeostasis (P < 0.05). In vivo studies showed that OA symptoms improved after administration of all MSCs. Also, PDGF-MSCs significantly improved limb function and reduced pain (P < 0.05). The results of the radiographic assessment and serum MMP-13 levels did not vary significantly compared to those of the control. CONCLUSIONS: Genetically modifying PDGF and HO-1 in MSCs is an effective strategy for treating OA, suggesting that PDGF-MSCs can be novel therapeutic agents for improving OA symptoms.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33430899/