TITLE:
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Allograft Improved Pain Management in Dogs with Osteoarthritis
AUTHORS:
Jonathan R. T. Lakey, Wenyi Guo, Michael Alexander, Mike K. S. Chan, Michelle B. F. Wong, Todd Scott
KEYWORDS:
Stem Cell Therapy, Canine, Pain, Osteoarthritis, Mesenchymal Stem Cell
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.11 No.11,
November
20,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Osteoarthritis is one of the most common bone diseases, triggered by bone destruction stemming from the inflammatory response of chondrocytes. The disease progresses slowly, but halting its progression or finding a cure remains elusive. The treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis has yielded unsatisfactory results. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a potential avenue for addressing the condition. In this study, we used MSCs to treat companion dogs with osteoarthritis. Methods: For this study, 26 animals were included in this study to assess the pain and mobility one month after treatment. The pain scores were obtained from owners using a questionnaire based on the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index, and the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) Owner questionnaire to assess the mobility of the dogs from stem cell infusion. Results: Questionnaires were administered to dog owners before and one month after treatment, and we found that dogs treated with MSCS experienced an 81.2% ± 6.8% reduction in pain and a 77.9% ± 10.1% increase in mobility, whereas most of the dogs in the untreated control group experienced disease progression. Conclusions: The transplantation of stem cells into companion pets is a promising and expanding opportunity for pet owners with aging and arthritic dogs. MSCs may play an important role in the treatment of OA without complications in companion pets.