Just as regenerative medicine offers healing that appears almost miraculous for humans so can it do for for animals. The field is growing especially quickly for sporting horses, where the loss of ability can potentially cost the owner thousands or even millions of dollars.

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

“Regenerative medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace tissue or organ function lost due to age, disease, damage or congenital defects. It includes the injection of stem cells or progenitor cells (also known as cell-based therapies), the induction of regeneration by biologically active molecules, and transplantation of in vitro grown organs and tissues,” according to The Ohio State University.

It is the same whether used on a human animal or another type.

Regenerative medicine includes:

• Stem cell therapy, which aids in tissue healing, such as damaged cartilage, fractures, desmitis (ligament inflammation), and more
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which delivers a high concentration of platelets in blood plasma to a lesion to help the injury heal
• Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), which blocks interleukin-β-1 (a pro-inflammatory mediator) and reduces inflammation in joints, potentially decreasing lameness while increasing growth factor levels to promote cartilage and tendon healing

How Can Regenerative Medicine Help?

Regenerative medicine is showing promise in encouraging healing for wounds and tissue injuries. For horses, it may promote healing for:

• Tendon injuries
• Ligament injuries
• Arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
• Healing open wounds
• Skin grafts

Research indicates an added benefit may be lower rates of injury after treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Using Stem Cells in Your Practice

• For marrow-derived stem cells, aspirate a sample of bone marrow from the horse's sternum. It's couriered to a laboratory. At the laboratory, stem cells are extracted, cultured, recombined with the serum and returned. Expansion can take two to three weeks.
• For fat-derived stem cells, make an incision, usually near the horse's tailhead, and collect a sample of fat tissue. At the lab, it's treated with enzymes and nucleated cells are separated from the fat. At this point, you have 2 options: The nucleated cell fraction can be sent back for use within three days or kept and cultured to get a higher concentration of MSCs.

Research indicates that the most efficacious method is to inject the stem-cell product directly into the injured tissue, using ultrasound to guide the injection. Delivering the treatment into the blood supply around the site using regional limb perfusion may not be as effective.

With recent advancements stem cell and other regenerative medicine therapies can now be conducted within the practice or stall side. Readily available stem cell kits provide greater access and convenience for the practicing veterinarian while making these treatments more affordable to the client.

Interested in More Information to Benefit Your Practice?

These articles may offer information of benefit to you.

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Growing Role of Technology in a Veterinary Practice

Engaging, Educating Staff and Data Tracking

Find more information that may be helpful on our website or contact us online or at 855.724.3461.

Sources:
https://medicine.osu.edu/regenerativemedicine/pages/index.aspx

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36804/current-applications-of-equine-regenerative-medicine

http://todaysveterinarypractice.navc.com/advances-in-stem-cell-therapy-application-to-veterinary-medicine/

https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health-archive/cutting-edge-cell-based-therapies-for-horses

http://equinepartnersamerica.com/

http://www.vet-stem.com/