title: Fetal derived embryonic-like stem cells improve healing in a large animal flexor tendonitis model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tendon injury is a common problem in athletes, with poor tissue regeneration and a high rate of re-injury. Stem cell therapy is an attractive treatment modality as it may induce tissue regeneration rather than tissue repair. Currently, there are no reports on the use of pluripotent cells in a large animal tendon model in vivo. We report the use of intra-lesional injection of male, fetal derived embryonic-like stem cells (fdESC) that express Oct-4, Nanog, SSEA4, Tra 1-60, Tra 1-81 and telomerase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tendon injury was induced using a collagenase gel-physical defect model in the mid-metacarpal region of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of eight female adult Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred cross horses. Tendon lesions were treated one week later with intra-lesional injection of male derived fdESCs in media or media alone. Therapy was blinded and randomized. Serial ultrasound examinations were performed and final analysis at eight weeks included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biochemical assays (total DNA, glycosaminoglycan, collagen), gene expression (TNC, TNMD, SCX, COL1A1, COL3A1, COMP, DCN, MMP1, MMP3, MMP13, 18S) and histology. Differences between groups were assessed with Wilcoxon's rank sum test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell survival was demonstrated via the presence of the SRY gene in fdESC treated, but not control treated, female SDFT at the end of the trial. There were no differences in tendon matrix specific gene expression or total proteoglycan, collagen or DNA of tendon lesions between groups. Tissue architecture, tendon size, tendon lesion size, and tendon linear fiber pattern were significantly improved on histologic sections and ultrasound in the fdESC treated tendons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Such profound structural effects lend further support to the notion that pluripotent stem cells can effect musculoskeletal regeneration, rather than repair, even without in vitro lineage specific differentiation. Further investigation into the safety of pluripotent cellular therapy as well as the mechanisms by which repair was improved seem warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Orthopaedics Laboratory at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850 USA. ajn1@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Ashlee E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.forename: Oleg V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Kopyov
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000662:veterinary; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy* / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA