Repeated intra-articular injection of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells causes an adverse response compared to autologous cells in the equine model

• Published in: Stem cell research & therapy Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 42
• Main Authors: Joswig, Amanda-Jo, Mitchell, Alexis, Cummings, Kevin J, Levine, Gwendolyn J, Gregory, Carl A, Smith, 3rd, Roger, Watts, Ashlee E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 28.02.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Female; Forelimb; Horses; Injections, Intra-Articular - adverse effects; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - immunology; Metacarpophalangeal Joint - immunology; Serum Albumin, Bovine - administration & dosage; Serum Albumin, Bovine - adverse effects; Serum Albumin, Bovine - immunology; Synovial Fluid - cytology; Synovial Fluid - immunology; Transplantation, Autologous; Transplantation, Homologous - adverse effects; Intra-articular; Flare; FBS; Horse; Bone marrow; Serum-free; Joint; MSC; Fetal bovine serum; Fetal calf serum
• ISSN: 1757-6512; 1757-6512
• DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0503-8

Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is efficacious in osteoarthritis therapy. A direct comparison of the response of the synovial joint to intra-articular injection of autologous versus allogeneic MSCs has not been performed. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical response to repeated intra-articular injection of allogeneic versus autologous MSCs prepared in a way to minimize xeno-contaminants in a large animal model. Intra-articular injections of bone marrow-derived, culture-expanded MSCs to a forelimb metacarpophalangeal joint were performed at week 0 and week 4 (six autologous; six autologous with xeno-contamination; six allogeneic). In the week following each injection, clinical and synovial cytology evaluations were performed. Following the first intra-articular injection, there were no differences in clinical parameters over time. Following the second intra-articular injection, there was a significant adverse response of the joint to allogeneic MSCs and autologous MSCs with xeno-contamination with elevated synovial total nucleated cell counts. There was also significantly increased pain from joints injected with autologous MSCs with xeno-contamination. Repeated intra-articular injection of allogeneic MSCs results in an adverse clinical response, suggesting there is immune recognition of allogeneic MSCs upon a second exposure.