Stem cell therapy has gained much attention over the years through media and medical reporting. Whether it is ground breaking science in the generation of complete functional organs or the healing of spinal cord injuries in human medicine, stem cells have remained at the forefront of the medical fields.

The knowledge of these cells and their properties continues to grow and with that, new therapies and applications are becoming more readily available for our pets.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells may be classified into two groups based on their origin: embryonic and adult stem cells. For current veterinary use, we will focus on adult stem cells only. Adult stem cells are found in every tissue of the body including bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat), skin and the liver. These cells have the ability to differentiate into many types of tissue (multipotent) under the appropriate circumstances and can additionally activate surrounding cells to aid in wound healing and tissue repair. Additionally, stem cells can also go through several cycles of cell division/ replication without differentiating into a specific tissue type i.e. they are self-replicating.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is the process by which a tissue sample is obtained from the patient (either by fat or bone marrow extraction), and is then processed to isolate the stem cells, followed by administration back into the patient at the site of injury or pathology by injection.

When stem cells are injected in a concentrated form, they act as a conductor for tissue repair by performing a number of tasks including:

  • Differentiation into surrounding tissue type e.g. Chondrocytes to form new cartilage.
  • Activation of surrounding resident stem cells
  • Recruitment of other cell types, release of cytokines and growth factors to accelerate healing and tissue repair
  • Regulation of inflammatory cytokines to reduce inflammation
  • Stimulate new blood supply
  • Protect cells from death
  • Create a biological scaffold for healing tissues by forming extracellular maxtrix
  • Reduction and/ or elimination of scar tissue/fibrosis.
  • Immune modulation

What has stem cell therapy been used for?

In veterinary medicine, stem cell therapy has been used for a wide range of indications including:

stemm cell1

  • Degenerative Diseases 
  • Tendon injuries or tendinopathies
  •  Ligament Injuries
  •  Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Osteoarthritis
  •  Certain spinal conditions such as spondylosis, Lumbosacral disease and intervertebral disc disease.
  •  Fracture Repair
  • Osteochondral Defects
  • Organ dysfunction or failure e.g. Renal failure and Liver disease
  • Auto-immune disease

Where are the cells obtained?

Adult-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) used in veterinary regenerative therapies are harvested from adipose tissue (fat) or bone marrow. Both types of mesenchymal stem cell are able to differentiate into cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments for repair and regeneration. There is currently no evidence to suggest that one type is superior to the other for regenerative therapies.
Here at Greenside veterinary practice we can offer treatment with either culture expanded adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). The majority of cases are treated with ADMSCs due to the ease of harvest, ability to culture expand and store cells for future use if required.

stemm cell2ADMSCs

ADMSCs are harvested from fat taken from the inguinal fat pad in the groin or falciform ligament in the abdomen under general anaesthesia. Both sites require a small (2 cm) incision in the skin and there are no external sutures placed in the skin following harvest. A blood sample is also taken to provide serum which is used to provide a medium in which the stem cells are suspended when they are returned for injection. This ensures that only cells and fluids from the same animal are implanted and therefore there is no risk of rejection or reaction.

The fat is processed and sent by overnight courier to an external laboratory that extracts the stem cells from the fat. These cells are then culture expanded. The culture process takes two to three weeks depending on the total number of cells required. Any number of stem cells can be cultured which is ideal if multiple joints are requiring treatment or large numbers of cells are required for intravenous or spinal injections. ADMSCs are sterility tested and cryogenically frozen prior to shipping back to the practice. Implantation can then be arranged at any point as the frozen cells can be stored for an extended period of time (many years in fact!). A sample of the patient's stem cells will be stored at the lab in case more cells are required in the future. These can then be used to culture more cells as required without having to undergo repeat fat harvest.  A single fat harvest usually provides a lifetime of treatments.

How are stem cells administered?

One of the most important aspects of SCT is the ability to get the cells to the target location. Treatment failures may result if the cells are not delivered correctly and it is imperative that the injections are therefore performed by a suitably qualified vet trained using advanced modalities. 

At Greenside Veterinary practice injections are performed under general anaesthetic or sedation using ultrasound guidance for soft tissue injuries. Joint injections are performed by experienced vets and correct placement of the needle into the joint is ensured by aspirating joint fluid prior to injection. Spinal injections are assisted using radiography to determine correct placement of the needle into the target tissue if required. We have performed thousands of joint and spinal injections and you can rest assured that we are able to deliver regenerative therapies to their target location in every case.

For all intra-articular joint injections, joint fluid is removed prior to implantation. Removal of joint fluid makes room for the administered treatment without causing excessive joint capsule distension following injection which can be associated with post implantation discomfort. Bespoke stem cells concentrations are requested from the laboratory to ensure the correct number of cells are in suitable volume for the patient's joint irrespective of their size.

What Conditions can be treated?

Tendon and ligament injuries:

Tendon and ligament injuries are very common in active dogs and can take a long time to heal due to poor blood supply. Conservative treatment allows for scar tissue formation which predisposes to re-injury or further degeneration resulting from decreased strength and flexibility. SCT heals the tendon or ligament injury through regeneration and elimination of fibrosis and scar tissue. Ultrasound guidance is used to target the stem cells directly into the site of injury and will also be used to monitor the repair process. Regenerative medicine is able to completely heal a tendon or ligament and with integrity uncompromised by scar tissue, patients are able to return to full activity and function.

Examples of commonly treated tendons and ligaments:

  • Supraspinatus tendon
  • Biceps tendon
  • Iliopsoas tendon
  • Achilles tendon
  • Carpal, tarsal and stifle collateral ligament
  • Cranial cruciate ligament (partial tear)

For severe tendon and ligament injuries that have resulted in ruptures or complete tears, surgical intervention is usually required. However, injecting stem cells around the damage will result in regeneration of fibres rather than scar tissue formation which strengthens the repair.

Treatment of osteoarthritis (OA)

OA is a very common cause of pain and lameness in dogs and cats. OA is not just limited to older patients and we commonly see this condition in young animals as well as a result of hip or elbow dysplasia or trauma to the joint. OA is usually managed with painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), joint supplements (such as Dasuquin), weight management and exercise modification.

Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are also important in maintaining muscle strength and fitness. Conservative management of OA often fails to provide a long term response and once OA is present in a joint it continues to progress with time. Stem cell therapy provides another treatment option in the management of OA. Stem cell therapy has the potential to reverse or stop the inevitable degeneration that ensues once OA occurs in a joint and can be used at any stage in the disease process.

Stem cells have a very potent anti-inflammatory effect when placed in an arthritic joint and they also have the potential to form new cartilage. We have seen SCT remodel joints and remove arthritic bone resulting in increased range of motion and better functionality. In the majority of patients treated with SCT they are able to stop their pain killers and return to normal exercise for an extended period of time.

Neurological conditions

Spinal conditions such as lumbosacral (LS) disease, intervertebral disc disease and spondylosis, can cause chronic pain and dysfunction in dogs.

Treatments options vary depending on the severity of the condition but include medical management, surgical intervention, physiotherapy and laser therapy. The use of stem cell therapy has recently been reported as a positive treatment option for spinal disease in dogs.

At Greenside Veterinary Practice we have pioneered a regenerative treatment option for lumbosacral disease. We have treated hundreds of cases now with intravenous and epidural implantation of stem cells with a very high success rate. LS disease is a chronically painful condition and can result in nerve dysfunction to the hind limbs, the bowels and the bladder. Greenside Vets have recently published a small case series on LS disease that can be seen here.

Other conditions that have been treated with stem cell therapy at Greenside vets Include:

  • Renal failure
  • Chronic nephritis
  • Haematuria
  • Liver failure
  • Liver cancer
  • Auto-immune disease
  • Lupoid onychodystrophy
  • Skin defects
  • Allergic skin disease
  • Feline diabetes
  • Feline gingivitis stomatitis complex
  • Nerve damage
  • Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Infammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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Following stem cell therapy, we recommend a course of laser therapy to commence immediately post implantation. Laser therapy energises the cells and stimulates the regenerative response through a process called photobiomodulation. Laser therapy also helps to reduce pain and inflammation associated with the joint injection until the stem cells can exert their anti-inflammatory and pain killing effects. We also recommend physiotherapy and hydrotherapy if appropriate to help the body adapt to the changes in function of the treated area and rebuild strength following periods of reduced use or compensation.

Stem cells can be stored for the lifetime of the animal in case a second treatment is required in the future. At Greenside vets we have a greater than 95% success rate with stem cell therapy but in some cases a second injection maybe required to complete the healing process. For the treatment of OA it is not uncommon for a patient to require a booster stem cell treatment 18 months to two years following the first treatment. This can easily be done by culturing more cells from cryopreserved samples without the need for repeat fat harvest.

SCT is a treatment option for any age or breed of dog or cat. The conditions listed above are just a few examples of the commonly performed treatments at Greenside Veterinary Practice. Many other conditions can potentially benefit from SCT and these can be discussed during consultation with Andy Armitage, our head of regenerative therapies.

Before this type of treatment can be performed it is important to obtain a definitive diagnosis in order to target the treatment appropriately. We have a number of diagnostic aids which enable us to find the cause of the problem and then treat it with the most appropriate forms of regenerative medicine. Diagnostic aids include radiography, stance analysis, digital thermal imaging, gait analysis including Force-plate analysis, musculo-skeletal ultrasound and skilled veterinary physical examination.

Once a definitive diagnosis has been made then a detailed treatment protocol and an estimate of treatment costs will be provided by your regenerative medicine specialist. Response to treatment will be objectively assessed using appropriate tools to ensure your pet is progressing as expected following treatment. We use an online health-related quality of life questionnaire (Vetmetrica) which gives us valuable indicators on how your pet is doing at home and will be able to complete the picture when monitoring treatment outcomes as well as ensuring early intervention if things are not going as expected.

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