Characterization and Allogeneic Transplantation of Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Collected From Cadavers

Bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) from horse cadavers offer an alternative source for allogeneic transplantation. Our study aimed to characterize equine BM-MSCs harvested from cadavers and to examine the potential use for allogeneic transplantation. Bone marrows were collected from three cadavers within 4 hours after the death. Samples were transported and stored at 4 degrees C for 20 hours before isolation and culture. BM-MSCs were examined for stemness markers (immunofluorescence and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]), differentiation ability, and treatment potential. Ten racing horses suffered from osteochondral fragment-induced osteoarthritis were recruited for the treatment study. Five horses were treated with equine BM-MSCs and surgery (MSC treatment group), and others were treated with only surgery (conventional treatment group). The immunofluorescence results showed that cells were stained positively for CD29 and CD90 but were mainly negative for CD34, CD45, CD14, CD73, and CD105. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed gene expression of CD90, CD14, CD44, and POU5F1, but no expression for CD79a, DRB, NANOG, and SOX2. Moreover, cells could form colony-forming unit-fibroblast colonies and differentiate to osteocytes, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and tenocytes. After allogeneic transplantation, no adverse effect was found, and MSC treatment group had an improved physical examination score, better racing performance, lesser osteophyte formation, and mononuclear cells in synovial fluid than the conventional treatment group. These results concluded that the equine cadaver is a useful source to obtain BM-MSCs for MSC banking and allogeneic transplantation. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.