Abstract

MASRI-DABA, María; CAMACHO-FLORES, Montserrat Erandi; GOMEZ-ROMERO, Ninnet  and  BASURTO ALCANTARA, Francisco Javier. Use of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of equine recurrent uveitis: a pilot study. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2023, vol.14, n.1, pp.137-153.  Epub Mar 24, 2023. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v14i1.6273.

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a disease that affects 2 to 25 % of equines worldwide, 56% of which go blind; therefore, it is considered the most common cause of blindness in horses. ERU is a spontaneous immune-mediated condition characterized by recurrent intraocular inflammatory events. Currently, there is no treatment for horses with this disease. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from various tissues, such as Wharton's jelly (WJ), have demonstrated their ability to modulate the immune response by negatively regulating the inflammatory process. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of using MSCs derived from WJ as a treatment for ERU. The WJ was obtained and processed according to previously described methodologies for obtaining EMF. The horses involved in this study received a dose of 5x106 MSCs in the subpalpebral area. The research evaluated the concentration of interleukins (IL: IL-1(, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-(, and TNF() in tear samples obtained before treatment inoculation, 30 min after the inoculation, and 7 days post inoculation. No significant changes in IL concentration were observed suggesting a decrease in pro-inflammatory ILs. However, horses with ERU treated with MSCs exhibited a positive response to therapy, evidenced by a decrease in signs of ERU. The results obtained suggest that treatment of ERU with WJ-derived MSCs is a safe alternative with promising results.

Keywords : Wharton's Jelly; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Equine recurrent uveitis; Therapeutics.