Clinical use of mesenchymal stromal cells in horses with orthopedic disease

The development of a method for the treatment of orthopedic diseases of horses using stem cells, in particular allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells, is an urgent scientific and applied task of veterinary medicine. The widespread use of tissue engineering technologies is limited by the lack of extensive clinical studies that would confirm the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. The aim of the study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of parenteral administration of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells to horses in orthopedic diseases. The study involved 4 horses with desmitis of the suspensory ligament (interosseous third muscle). Mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from donor adipose tissue were injected into the area of damage to the suspensory ligament twice with an interval of 14 days at a dose of 2x106 cells suspended in 2-15 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Injections did not cause the development of inflammatory reactions. According to the results of the study, all horses returned to full training on average 3.2 ± 0.01 months after the start of therapy.