Evaluation of the Curative Effect of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Arthritis in Dogs Using Imaging Technology

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of canine umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in dogs. Methods Eight dogs were evenly assigned to two groups. The canine model of knee osteoarthritis was established by surgical manipulation of knee articular cartilage on these eight dogs. UC-MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly by 0.1% type collagenase I and identified by immunofluorescence staining and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. A suspension of allogeneic UC-MSCs (1 × 106) and an equal amount of physiological saline was injected into the cavitas articularis in the treated and untreated control groups, respectively, on days 1 and 3 posttreatment. The structure of the canine knee joint was observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), B-mode ultrasonography, and X-ray imaging at the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th days after treatment. Concurrently, the levels of IL-6, IL-7, and TNF-α in the blood of the examined dogs were measured. Moreover, the recovery of cartilage and patella surface in the treated group and untreated group was compared using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after a 35-day treatment. Results Results revealed that the isolated cells were UC-MSCs, because they were positive for CD44 and negative for CD34 surface markers, and the cells were differentiated into adipocytes and osteoblasts. Imaging technology showed that as treatment time increased, the high signal in the MRI T2-weighted images decreased, the echo-free space in B ultrasonography images disappeared basically, and the continuous linear hypoechoic region at the trochlear sulcus thickened. On X-ray images, the serrate defect at the ventral cortex of the patella improved, and the low-density gap of the ventral patella and trochlear crest gradually increased in the treated group. On the contrary, the high signal in the MRI T2-weighted images and the echo-free space in B ultrasonography images still increased after a 14-day treatment in the untreated control group, and the linear hypoechoic region was discontinuous. On the X-ray images, there was no improvement in the serrate defect of the ventral cortex of the patella. Results for inflammatory factors showed that the blood levels of IL-6, IL-7, and TNF-α of the untreated control group were significantly higher than those of the treated group (P < 0.05) 7–14 days posttreatment. The result of SEM showed that the cartilage neogenesis in the treated group had visible neonatal tissue and more irregular arrangement of new tissue fibers than that of the untreated control group. Furthermore, more vacuoles but without collagen fibers were observed in the cartilage of the untreated control group, and the thickness of the neogenetic cartilage in the treated group (65.13 ± 5.29, 65.30 ± 5.83) and the untreated control group (34.27 ± 5.42) showed a significant difference (P < 0.01). Conclusion Significantly higher improvement in cartilage neogenesis and recovery was observed in the treated group compar...

Stem Cells in Veterinary Medicine—Current State and Treatment Options

“…To date, MSCs were successfully isolated from various tissues, and based on the source they have different properties, which should be considered when choosing the optimal stem cell therapy approach aiming at the tissue healing. In dogs, horses and cats, the most common companion veterinary patients, MSCs have been isolated from bone marrow (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23), adipose tissue (16, 17, 19-21, 23, 24), synovium (16), synovial fluid (17,21,25,26), synovial membrane (26), infrapatellar fat pad (16), umbilical cord (27)(28)(29), umbilical cord blood (19,30,31), Wharton's Jelly (19,31), muscle and periosteum (20,32), gingiva and periodontal ligament (33), peripheral blood (34)(35)(36)(37), endometrium (38), and placenta (31). In mice, MSCs were also isolated from the brain, spleen, liver, kidney, lung, muscle, thymus, and pancreas (39).…”

Manufacturing and Banking Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Veterinary Clinical Application

“…As one of the most common companion animals, some breeds of canine including beagles are also experimental animals. With the improvement of living standards, diseases of aging in canine have become more common clinically, especially chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, diabetes, pancreatitis and tendonopathy [19,20]. Meanwhile, there are no particularly effective treatments for these diseases, which not only affect the quality of life of the affected animals, but also require the owners to invest a lot of energy, time and money.…”

Manufacturing and Banking Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Veterinary Clinical Application

“…As one of the most common companion animals, some breeds of canine including beagles are also experimental animals. With the improvement of living standards, diseases of aging in canine have become more common clinically, especially chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, diabetes, pancreatitis and tendonopathy [19,20].Meanwhile, there are no particularly effective treatments for these diseases, which not only affect the quality of life of the affected animals, but also require the owners to invest a lot of energy, time and money. Currently, many related reports have con rmed that AD-MSCs therapy in a variety of canine diseases in clinical trials have shown initial results [21][22][23][24][25].…”