Mesenchymal stem cells reduce pain but not degenerative changes in a mono-iodoacetate rat model of osteoarthritis

Abstract

ABSTRACT:We studied the effects of intra-articularly injected bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as freshly isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs), on pain, cartilage damage, bone changes and inflammation in an in-vivo rat osteoarthritis (OA) model. OA was induced unilaterally by injection of mono-iodoacetate (MIA) and allowed to develop for 3 weeks. Then, animals were treated by intra-articular injection with MSCs, BMMNCs, or saline as a control. Four weeks later, pain was assessed with an incapitance tester, subchondral bone alterations were measured with mCT and cartilage quality and joint inflammation were assessed by histological analysis. Animals treated with MSCs distributed significantly more weight to the affected limb after treatment, which was not observed in the other groups. No statistically significant differences between treatment groups regarding cartilage damage, subchondral bone alterations and synovial inflammation were observed. Additional cell tracking experiments indicated adequate intra-articular cell injection and cell survival up to 2 weeks. In our OA model, injected MSCs were able to reduce MIA induced pain, as measured by an increased weight distribution to the affected limb. No statistically significant effects of the cellular therapies on structural damage and synovial inflammation were found. ß

Efficacy and safety of adult human bone marrow-derived, cultured, pooled, allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (Stempeucel®): preclinical and clinical trial in osteoarthritis of the knee joint

“…Although the exact mechanism of action of MSCs on pain reduction is not known, anti-inflammatory activity has been attributed to this effect. To date, some studies have demonstrated the role of MSCs on OA-induced pain behavior [35–37]. Van Buul et al reported improvement of weight-bearing joints of the affected limb after intra-articular application of both rat and human BMMSCs in MIA-induced OA rats [37].…”

Nanoparticles and clinically applicable cell tracking

“…Poor graft survival has now been generally accepted as a major hurdle for successful cell therapy in regenerative medicine approaches, therefore much effort is currently put into strategies to improve graft survival. [137][138][139][140][141] Clearly, in vivo cell tracking can provide valuable information for the design and use of cell-based treatment strategies. Unfortunately, current limitations imposed by practical, technical and regulatory issues still prevent widespread clinical use of available imaging technology.…”

Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair: A Review of the Science and the Pathway Through FDA Investigational Device Approval

“…In addition to the extra regulatory and patient burden, once the cells are implanted, they die at an accelerated rate, typically with only a few percentage of the implanted cells found to survive more than a few weeks in the body. 41, 44, 55 This may be due to a relatively rapid change in environment for these cells, from the carefully monitored and controlled in vitro environment to an in vivo environment which may have significantly less nutrition or oxygen.…”