Here you will find a selection of publications on autologous, adipose-derived cell products in horses: for tendon and ligament injuries, joint disease and chronic laminitis, as well as on the underlying biological mechanisms.
A | Autologous adipose-derived cell fraction · Controlled experimental model · 8 horses
→ Treated tendons had significantly better histological fiber architecture, alignment, and density, as well as fewer inflammatory cells and less type III collagen, compared with PBS controls.
Am J Vet Res. 2008;69:928–937. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.69.7.928 · Original publication / PubMed
A | Autologous adipose-derived MSCs + platelet concentrate · Randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled · 8 horses
→ In an experimental tendinitis model, autologous, cultured adipose-derived MSCs combined with platelet concentrate prevented further progression of the lesions and produced better collagen organization and less inflammatory infiltration than PBS controls.
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2013;4:85. DOI: 10.1186/scrt236 · Original publication / PubMed · Full text
A | Autologous adipose-derived MSCs · Controlled experimental model · 9 horses
→ Treatment with autologous, cultured adipose-derived MSCs produced significantly greater neovascularization of treated superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) lesions, assessed by both Doppler ultrasonography and histology.
Regen Med. 2014;9:743–757. DOI: 10.2217/rme.14.55 · Original publication / PubMed
B | Allogeneic adipose-derived MSCs + PRP · Clinical case series · 19 horses
→ Among 19 horses with acute or subacute superficial digital flexor tendinitis, 89.5% returned to their previous competitive level by 24 months; the authors reported a reinjury rate of 10.5%.
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2013;26(1 Suppl):61–68. DOI: 10.1177/03946320130260S108 · Original publication / PubMed
A | Autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs/SVF) · Retrospective clinical study · 83 horses, 176 suspensory ligament injuries
→ This retrospective clinical study evaluated 83 sport horses with 176 suspensory ligament injuries treated with autologous adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs), followed by standardized rehabilitation. Overall, 84.3% of treated horses successfully returned to their previous or a higher level of athletic performance for at least one year without re-injury. Favorable outcomes were observed in both forelimb (84.6%) and hindlimb injuries (82.1%), with a particularly high success rate of 86.7% in proximal suspensory ligament desmitis. No treatment-related adverse events or post-injection inflammatory reactions were reported.
Rich FR. (2014). Stem Cell Discovery, 4, 44–53. DOI: 10.4236/scd.2014.42005 · Original publication
B | Evidence synthesis covering different MSC products · Systematic review (21 studies), meta-analysis (17 studies)
→ In the meta-analysis, MSC treatments, either alone or combined with PRP, were associated with a lower risk of reinjury following tendon and ligament injuries.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2024;262(S1):S50–S60. DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.12.0723 · Original publication / PubMed
A | Autologous adipose-derived MSCs · Clinical comparative study · 16 horses
→ Ten horses with bone spavin received autologous, cultured adipose-derived MSCs (with three corticosteroid-treated and three untreated controls). The authors reported longer-lasting clinical improvement, including the absence of observable lameness in the MSC group at the 180-day assessment.
Pol J Vet Sci. 2013;16(4):753–754. DOI: 10.2478/pjvs-2013-0107 · Original publication / PubMed
A | Autologous adipose-derived MSCs · Controlled experimental cartilage-defect model · 4 horses, 8 joints
→ Autologous, cultured adipose-derived MSCs delivered in fibrin glue improved the macroscopic and histological organization of repair tissue. Some synovial inflammatory parameters showed favorable trends.
Stem Cell Discov. 2013;3:218–225. DOI: 10.4236/scd.2013.34027 · Original publication
A | Autologous SVF · Clinical case report · 1 horse
→ Following arthroscopic removal of a carpal chip fracture and subsequent intra-articular treatment with autologous SVF, improvement in lameness and a return to racing were documented, with no recurrence during 20 months of follow-up.
Iran J Vet Res. 2016;17(1):59–61. PMID: 27656232 · Original publication / PubMed · Full text
A | Autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue + PRP · Prospective clinical pilot study · 8 horses, 9 joints
→ Eight sport and racehorses with clinically and radiographically confirmed degenerative joint disease (DJD) received a single intra-articular injection of autologous mechanically processed micro-fat combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). At three months, a substantial reduction in AAEP lameness scores was observed, with statistically significant improvement reported in the study (p = 0.021). Four horses returned to official competition, while three others resumed intensive training within 5–10 months. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported.
Bembo F, et al. (2016). Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 6(2), 198–204. DOI: 10.11138/mltj/2016.6.2.198 · Original publication / PubMed
A | Autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) · Placebo-controlled paired-limb study · 6 horses
→ Six mares with stable chronic laminitis received regional intravenous perfusion of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into one forelimb, while the contralateral forelimb received placebo treatment. Each treated limb received three infusions of 20 million cells at 15-day intervals. Venographic examinations demonstrated significantly improved digital vascular perfusion in MSC-treated limbs (p < 0.03), particularly within the dorsal lamellar vascular network and the circumflex-lamellar junction. Furthermore, hoof wall growth was approximately 20% greater in treated limbs than in placebo controls (p < 0.03). Favorable changes in the spatial relationship between the distal phalanx and hoof capsule were also reported.
Oliveira APL, et al. (2021). Cytotherapy, 23(4), Supplement, 31–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.092 · Original publication
A | Autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) · Placebo-controlled histological evaluation · 6 horses
→ This complementary investigation evaluated histological changes in hoof lamellar tissue following regional intravenous treatment with autologous adipose-derived MSCs in six mares with chronic laminitis. One forelimb was treated with three infusions of 20 million AD-MSCs, while the contralateral limb received placebo. Histological examination revealed significant progression of multiple pathological changes in placebo-treated hooves, including increased overall lamellar lesion scores (p = 0.01), loss of keratinized axis integrity (p = 0.0001), stratum medium hyperplasia (p = 0.001), reduced primary epidermal lamellar homogeneity (p = 0.003), and hyperkeratosis (p = 0.05). In contrast, MSC-treated hooves exhibited progression of only the stratum medium hyperplasia score.
Oliveira APL, et al. (2021). Cytotherapy, 23(4), Supplement, 22. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.066 · Original publication
B | Allogeneic and autologous adipose-derived MSCs + PRP · Clinical proof-of-concept case series · 9 horses
→ Nine horses with severe chronic laminitis (grades III–IV) that had responded inadequately to prior treatment received three regional intravenous injections, one month apart, each containing 15 million adipose-derived MSCs together with 15 mL of autologous PRP, administered through a digital vein. Allogeneic cells were used at the first visit, followed by autologous, previously cultured adipose-derived MSCs at the two subsequent visits. The authors described improved hoof perfusion (venography), hoof structure, and mobility in all nine horses. All returned to activity at six months, and seven remained active at 12 months. Two horses subsequently experienced recurrence and were euthanized during longer-term follow-up. No treatment-related adverse events were reported during follow-up.
Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(10):2122. DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102122 · Original publication / PubMed · Full text
A | Equine-specific SVF laboratory study · Experimental in-vitro study of equine adipose and tendon tissue
→ Compared with cultured adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs), SVF showed higher expression of several trophic factors, including IGF-1, SDF-1α, and TGF-β. ASC-conditioned medium promoted cell migration, and co-culture affected tenocyte gene expression.
J Orthop Res. 2019;37:1429–1439. DOI: 10.1002/jor.24307 · Original publication / PubMed · Full text
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