Evaluation of intrathecal transplantation of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells in healthy horses and with neurological sequels

Abstract

The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that have extensive ability in vitro to differentiate into various mesenchymal lineages, and although still controversial, in other germline as neurons, glial cells and hepatocytes in response to specific stimuli, For the limited regenerative capacity of neural tissue, the therapeutic potential of stem cell grafts has been studied in various pathological conditions of the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and response to intrathecal successive transplantations of MSCs from various sources in horses, For this, MSCs will be collected, cultured, characterized and evaluated the tumorigenic, therapeutic and transdifferentiation potential of MSCs derived from bone marrow (n = 5), adipose tissue (n = 5) and cord blood (n = 5). Subsequently, the cell line of each source that presents the best neural transdifferentiation in the characterization phase, will be used for transplantation via the intrathecal lumbosacral cistern in healthy animals (GC = 4 ; GTMO = 4 ; GTTA = 4 ; GTCU = 4) totaling 3 times with an interval of 15 days. After this step, the MSCs will be used for transplantation via intrathecal lumbosacral cistern by the animals of the patient group with motor incoordination as a sequel to myeloencephalitis by Equine Protozoa (MEP) (GD = 8), 3 times with an interval of 15 days. All animals (healthy and diseased group) will be evaluated by serial neurological examination, blood analysis, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and expression of metalloproteinases type 2 and 9 in the latent and activated forms in CSF before and after each transplant. The expected results will help in choosing the best source of mesenchymal stem cells aiming that with the best therapeutic quality, to create a cell bank which will provide larger clinical trials using allogeneic therapy for certain neurological diseases of horses, (AU)