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Updated: May 5, 2026
Isolation and Intravenous Injection of Murine Bone Marrow Derived Monocytes
Published on: December 27, 2014
Equine bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow aspirate concentrate are enriched with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist
Sidney Long1, Grigorios Maleas2, Zarah A Belacic1
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Insights
Equine bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) significantly increases anti-inflammatory IL-1Ra and cellular components compared to bone marrow aspirate (BMA). This suggests BMAC
Area of Science:
- Veterinary regenerative medicine
- Equine sports medicine
- Biologics in equine therapeutics
Background:
- Equine bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) are autologous biologics used in equine medicine.
- Understanding the cellular and biochemical composition of these preparations is crucial for optimizing their therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the cellular, growth factor, and cytokine profiles of equine sternal bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and laboratory-centrifuged bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC).
- To compare these profiles with whole blood and platelet-rich plasma.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro experimental study involving 25 horses.
- Quantification of cellular components, growth factors (IGF-I, VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β1), and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1Ra) using automated hematology analyzers and ELISA.
- Analysis of BMA, BMAC, whole blood, and platelet-rich plasma (E-PET).
Main Results:
- BMAC showed significant increases in leukocytes (4.1-fold), neutrophils (3.4-fold), monocytes (4.6-fold), lymphocytes (4.4-fold), and thrombocytes (2.5-fold) compared to BMA.
- Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra) was markedly elevated in BMAC (21-fold vs. BMA).
- No significant changes were observed in IGF-I, VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-10, or TNF-α concentrations between BMA and BMAC.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory centrifugation effectively enriches equine BMAC with cellular components and IL-1Ra compared to BMA.
- Equine BMAC represents a promising biologic for musculoskeletal tissue healing, warranting further investigation.
Objective:
To analyze the cellular, growth factor, and cytokine composition of equine sternal bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and laboratory-centrifuged BMA concentrate (BMAC).
Methods:
This was an in vitro experimental study. Cellular composition, growth factors (IGF-I, VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β1), and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1 receptor antagonist protein [IL-1Ra]) were quantified using a standard automated hematology analyzer and ELISA methods, respectively, in donor-matched BMA, BMAC (in-house centrifugation protocol), whole blood, and platelet-rich plasma (E-PET; Pall Inc) prepared from 25 horses from 2016 through 2020.
Results:
Leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and thrombocytes were increased 4.1-, 3.4-, 4.6-, 4.4-, and 2.5-fold in BMAC compared to BMA, respectively. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein of BMAC was increased 21-fold compared to BMA and increased 117-fold compared to gravity filtration system-based, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma.
Conclusions:
Laboratory centrifugation enriches the cellular and IL-1Ra concentrations of equine BMAC compared to BMA, with no significant changes in IGF-I, VEGF, PDGF, TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-10, or TNF-α concentrations.
Clinical Relevance:
Equine BMA and BMAC are patient-side biologics enriched with anti-inflammatory IL-1Ra and support further evaluation of equine BMAC for musculoskeletal tissue healing.
