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Exploring the Tumor-Associated Risk of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
Soyoung Jeung1,2, Sungsoo Kim1,2, Jaegon Ah1
1VIP Animal Medical Center, 73, Dongsomun-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02830, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been actively applied in veterinary regenerative medicine to treat various canine and feline diseases. With increasing emphasis on safe cell-based therapies, evaluations of their tumorigenic potential are in great demand. However, a direct confirmation of whether tumors originate from stem cells or host cells is not easily achievable. Additionally, previous studies evaluating injections of high doses of MSCs into nude mice did not demonstrate tumor formation. Recent research focused on optimizing MSC-based therapies for veterinary patients, such as MSC-derived extracellular vesicles in treating different diseases. This progress also signifies a broader shift towards personalized veterinary medicine, where treatments can be tailored to individual pets based on their unique genetic profiles. These findings related to different treatments using MSCs emphasize their future potential for veterinary clinical applications. In summary, because of lower tumor-associated risk of MSCs as compared to embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, MSCs are considered a suitable source for treating various canine and feline diseases.
Insights
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise in veterinary regenerative medicine for pets. Studies indicate MSCs have a lower tumor risk compared to other stem cells, making them a safer option for treating canine and feline diseases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Regenerative Medicine
- Cell-Based Therapies
- Oncology
Background:
- Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is increasingly used in veterinary medicine for treating diseases in dogs and cats.
- Evaluating the tumorigenic potential of MSCs is crucial for ensuring the safety of cell-based therapies.
- Distinguishing between stem cell-derived and host cell-derived tumors can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in veterinary applications.
- To address the demand for rigorous evaluation of tumorigenic risk associated with stem cell therapies.
- To explore advancements in MSC-based treatments, including MSC-derived extracellular vesicles.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injections in animal models, including high-dose studies in nude mice.
- Analysis of research focusing on optimizing MSC therapies for veterinary patients.
- Examination of the shift towards personalized veterinary medicine incorporating genetic profiles.
Main Results:
- Previous studies involving high doses of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in nude mice did not result in tumor formation.
- Ongoing research is optimizing MSC-derived extracellular vesicles for treating various animal diseases.
- Findings highlight the potential for personalized veterinary medicine using MSCs.
Conclusions:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present a lower tumor-associated risk compared to embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.
- MSCs are considered a suitable and safer source for regenerative medicine therapies in dogs and cats.
- Continued research supports the future clinical application of MSCs in veterinary medicine.
