title: A new clinical approach: use of blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) for superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we present an innovative therapy using stem cells that were obtained from the peripheral blood of racehorses affected by uninduced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) were generated from the blood samples of three horses in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The racehorses received a single autologous BDSC treatment, which resulted in the successful repair of the tendons injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that the BDSCs injection into the damaged tendon stimulated the regeneration of normal tissue. Furthermore, a relationship may exist between the speed and the quality of new tissue formation and the welfare and management of the treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that stem cell technology offers new tools for tissue repair that in many cases is considered incurable, and provides additional evidence that BDScs injections increase the speed and quality of the regeneration process in different animal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marfe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rotta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tafani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiorito
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polettini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranalli
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambacurta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012038:Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000628:therapy* / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor