title: Feasibility and safety of intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have demonstrated numerous biological properties of mesenchymal stem cells and their potential application in treating complex diseases or injuries to tissues that have difficulty regenerating, such as those affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. Thus, therapies that use mesenchymal stem cells are promising because of their high capacity for self-regeneration, their low immunogenicity, and their paracrine, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects. In this context, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intrathecal transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in horses, for future application in the treatment of neurological diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the neurological evaluations, no clinical signs were observed that were related to brain and/or spinal cord injury of the animals from the control group or the treated group. The hematological and cerebrospinal fluid results from day 1 and day 6 showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the treated group and the control group. Additionally, analysis of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and -9 in the cerebrospinal fluid revealed only the presence of pro-MMP-2 (latent), with no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the studied groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study support the hypothesis of the feasibility and safety of intrathecal transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, indicating that it is a promising pathway for cell delivery for the treatment of neurological disorders in horses.
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University, District of Rubião Júnior, n/n, CEP: 18618970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. leandromvet@hotmail.com.
authors: Leandro
authors: L
authors: Maia
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University, District of Rubião Júnior, n/n, CEP: 18618970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. fernanda@fmvz.unesp.br.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: da Cruz Landim-Alvarenga
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Maringá State University, Av. Colombo, 5.790, CEP: 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. mtafarel@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Marilda Onghero
authors: MO
authors: Taffarel
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University, District of Rubião Júnior, n/n, CEP: 18618970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. carolnmoraes@hotmail.com.
authors: Carolina Nogueira
authors: CN
authors: de Moraes
authors: Department of Clinic, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University, Clóvis Pestano, 793, CEP: 16050-680, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. giselem@fmva.unesp.br.
authors: Gisele Fabrino
authors: GF
authors: Machado
authors: Department of Clinic, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University, Clóvis Pestano, 793, CEP: 16050-680, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. di.melo@uol.com.br.
authors: Guilherme Dias
authors: GD
authors: Melo
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinics, São Paulo State University, District of Rubião Júnior, n/n, CEP: 18618970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. rmamorim@fmvz.unesp.br.
authors: Rogério Martins
authors: RM
authors: Amorim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*