Articular Cartilage Regeneration by Hyaline Chondrocytes: A Case Study in Equine Model and Outcomes

Abstract

Cartilage injury defects in animals and humans result in the development of osteoarthritis and the progression of joint deterioration. Cell isolation from equine hyaline cartilage and evaluation of their ability to repair equine joint cartilage injuries establish a new experimental protocol for an alternative approach to osteochondral lesions treatment. Chondrocytes (CCs), isolated from the autologous cartilage of the trachea, grown in the laboratory, and subsequently arthroscopically implanted into the lesion site, were used to regenerate a chondral lesion of the carpal joint of a horse. Biopsies of the treated cartilage taken after 8 and 13 months of implantation for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of the tissue demonstrate that the tissue was still immature 8 months after implantation, while at 13 months it was organized almost similarly to the original hyaline cartilage. Finally, a tissue perfectly comparable to native articular cartilage was detected 24 months after implantation. Histological investigations demonstrate the progressive maturation of the hyaline cartilage at the site of the lesion. The hyaline type of tracheal cartilage, used as a source of CCs, allows for the repair of joint cartilage injuries through the neosynthesis of hyaline cartilage that presents characteristics identical to the articular cartilage of the original tissue.

Case report: Equine metacarpophalangeal joint partial and full thickness defects treated with allogenic equine synovial membrane mesenchymal stem/stromal cell combined with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem/stromal cell conditioned medium

“…Comparing the outcomes with the limited existing literature, in this case, the patient was sound and returned to work and competition in a reduced time frame (60)(61)(62). In an equine radius articular defect treated with ACI, the horse stood in rest for 4 weeks (vs. 2 days in our protocol) and was sound, having recovered from joint distension after 24 months (vs. 12 months and 3 months with our protocol) (60). In another report describing MSC joint capsule rupture treatment, the horse re-established its athletic performance 1 year later.…”

Arthroscopic Treatment of a Subchondral Bone Cyst via Stem Cells Application: A Case Study in Equine Model and Outcomes

“…The amount of sampling is also greatly reduced because the stromal cells isolated from this alternative source have exceptionally high proliferative capacities. The combination of these characteristics makes adipose tissue an excellent source of mesenchymal progenitor cells, meeting the characteristics necessary for their use in regenerative medicine [20,21]. The regenerative potential of the bone may not be sufficient to guarantee effective "restitutio ad integrum" [22,23].…”