Stem cells are like tiny magicians: they have the ability to transform into many different tissue types and increase injury healing. Stem cells are used for a variety of purposes in equine veterinary medicine, but they're most commonly used to help treat musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis and tendonitis. Recent studies have also used stem cells in the treatment of laminitis.
To harvest stem cells, fat tissue is collected from the affected horse and sent to a lab where the cells are isolated and placed into a new culture. The culture is sent back to the treating vet who then injects the cells back into the horse, often into soft-tissue lesions or joints.
A study from Poland and Germany has found that stem cells harvested from horses with equine metabolic syndrome may be less viable than those harvested from healthy horses. This study follows on the heels of research from human regenerative medicine that suggested that stem cells harvested from obese patients or those with insulin resistance were less viable than stem cells harvested from healthy patients.
Researchers at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science isolated stem cells from fat tissue near the tail head of six healthy horses and six horses diagnosed with EMS. The scientists found that stem cells from horses with EMS were less likely to survive and multiply than those from healthy horses. Additionally, the stem cells from the EMS-affected horses had structural flaws and impaired mitochondria (mitochondria regulate cell metabolism).
Stem cells from horses with EMS also had accumulations of toxic compounds associated with oxidative stress, which could lead to premature cell death. The study team concluded that treating stem cells from horses with EMS with antioxidants before injecting them back into the horse may be warranted.
Read more at EQUUS magazine.
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