title: Comparison of autologous versus allogeneic epithelial-like stem cell treatment in an in vivo equine skin wound model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies report beneficial effects of autologous and allogeneic stem cells on wound healing. However, no comparison between autologous versus allogeneic epithelial-like stem cells (EpSCs) has been made so far. For this reason, we first hypothesize that both EpSC types enhance wound healing in comparison to vehicle treatment and untreated controls. Second, on the basis of other studies, we hypothesized that there would be no difference between autologous and allogeneic EpSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve full-thickness skin wounds were created in six horses. Each horse was subjected to (i) autologous EpSCs, (ii) allogeneic EpSCs, (iii) vehicle treatment or (iv) untreated control. Wound evaluation was performed at day 3, 7 and 14 through wound exudates and at week 1, 2 and 5 through biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound circumference and surface were significantly smaller in autologous EpSC-treated wounds. A significantly lower amount of total granulation tissue (overall) and higher vascularization (week 1) was observed after both EpSC treatments. Significantly more major histocompatibility complex II-positive and CD20-positive cells were noticed in EpSC-treated wounds at week 2. In autologous and allogeneic groups, the number of EpSCs in center biopsies was low after 1 week (11.7% and 6.1%), decreased to 7.6% and 1.7%, respectively (week 2), and became undetectable at week 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the first hypothesis and partially support the second hypothesis. Besides macroscopic improvements, both autologous and allogeneic EpSCs had similar effects on granulation tissue formation, vascularization and early cellular immune response.
authors.affiliation: Global Stem Cell Technology, ANACURA Group, Evergem, Belgium; Pell Cell Medicals, ANACURA Group, Evergem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Broeckx
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Veterinary Laboratory, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Bizunesh M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Borena
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiers
authors.affiliation: Vet Med Lab, IDEXX Laboratories, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Global Stem Cell Technology, ANACURA Group, Evergem, Belgium; Pell Cell Medicals, ANACURA Group, Evergem, Belgium. Electronic address: jan.spaas@anacura.com.
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Spaas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
keywords: allogeneic; autologous; horse; skin; stem cells