Sanja Srzentić Dražilov, et al. July 25, 2018 Link to full article

Elita Genetics Summary

Unlocking a Dog's Own Healing Power: Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Osteoarthritis

At Elita Genetics, we're committed to bringing the future of personalised medicine to pets across Australia. We keep a keen eye on global research to ensure our services are informed by the latest scientific advancements. We are particularly interested in studies that explore the therapeutic potential of a pet's own (autologous) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), especially for managing chronic conditions like osteoarthritis (OA) where traditional treatments can have limitations.

A compelling study published in Acta Veterinaria Hungarica in 2018 by Srzentić Dražilov and colleagues investigates the use of autologous, adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) for treating OA in dogs. This research highlights the significant clinical improvements observed after a single injection of these cells, underscoring their potential as a safe and effective therapy for this common degenerative joint disease.

Study Focus at a Glance

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a dog’s own fat-derived stem cells to treat osteoarthritis. Key aspects include:

• Condition Treated: Osteoarthritis (OA) in canine patients.
• Source of Cells: Autologous (the dog's own) mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (AD-MSCs).
• Treatment Protocol: A single injection of culture-expanded AD-MSCs directly into the symptomatic joint(s).
• Evaluation Periods:
  • An initial evaluation at 30, 60, and 90 days post-treatment for all 10 dogs.
  • An extended follow-up period of 1 to 4 years for 5 of these dogs.
• Outcome Measures: Clinical effects were assessed by a veterinarian for five key characteristics of OA: lameness at walk, lameness at trot, pain on manipulation, range of motion of the joint, and functional disability.

What Did They Find? The Therapeutic Promise of Autologous MSCs for OA

The study confirmed the "stemness" of the isolated cells, showing their ability to differentiate into bone and cartilage cell lineages, a crucial quality check for MSCs. The core findings on clinical efficacy were:

• Significant Short-Term Improvements (90 Days):
  • All 10 dogs showed statistically significant improvement across all five assessed disabilities (lameness at walk, lameness at trot, pain on manipulation, range of motion, and functional disability) by day 90.
  • The most substantial improvement was seen in "lameness at trot," with mean scores dropping dramatically.
• Encouraging Long-Lasting Effects (1-4 Years):
  • In the 5 dogs available for extended follow-up, statistically significant improvement was maintained for "lameness at trot" and "range of motion of the joint" compared to their baseline scores before treatment.
  • While not all measures retained statistical significance in this smaller group over the extended period, the mean scores for all characteristics still showed improvement compared to baseline, with "lameness at trot" again showing the largest positive change.
• Safety: Importantly, no adverse effects from the AD-MSC treatment were detected in any patient throughout the entire evaluation period.

The researchers concluded that using autologous AD-MSCs is a successful therapeutic approach for canine OA.