Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Feb;69(2):450-7. doi: 10.1136/ard.2008.106435. Epub 2009 Apr 2.

Mesenchymal stem cells in rheumatoid synovium: enumeration and functional assessment in relation to synovial inflammation level.

Jones E¹, Churchman SM, English A, Buch MH, Horner EA, Burgoyne CH, Reece R, Kinsey S, Emery P, McGonagle D, Ponchel F.

Author information

¹Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, UK.

Erratum in

Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Aug;70(8):1519.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Achieving joint regeneration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents a future challenge. Autologous synovial mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) could be therapeutically exploited. However, the inflammatory milieu in the RA synovium could adversely affect endogenous MSC function. To test this hypothesis, the frequency and multipotency of RA synovial MSCs was evaluated in relation to existing synovial inflammation.

METHODS:

Synovial inflammation was measured using the arthroscopic visual analogue score (VAS) and further validated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Highly proliferative clonogenic in vivo MSCs were enumerated following fluorescence-activated cell sorting and expansion for 20 population doublings. MSC multipotency was quantified following standard in vitro culture expansion and trilineage differentiation assays. Real-time PCR, flow cytometry and ELISA were used to evaluate pro- and anti-chondrogenic molecules in standard polyclonal synovial MSCs.

RESULTS:

The arthroscopic VAS significantly correlated with synovial macrophage infiltration. In RA, synovial MSC chondrogenesis was inhibited in direct relation to VAS (r = -0.777, p<0.05) and reduced compared with control osteoarthritis (OA)-MSCs (p<0.05). In vivo, MSCs resided in the synovial fibroblastic/stromal fraction (CD45(-)CD31(-)) and were reduced in frequency in relation to VAS (r = -0.695, p<0.05). In RA-MSCs, CD44 levels correlated negatively with inflammation and positively with chondrogenesis (r = -0.830 and r = 0.865, respectively). Cytokine production and Sox9 expression was similar in RA-MSCs and OA-MSCs.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is a negative relationship between synovial MSC chondrogenic and clonogenic capacities and the magnitude of synovitisin RA. Effective suppression of joint inflammation is therefore necessary for the development of autologous MSC treatments aimed at cartilage regeneration in RA.

J Immunol. 2015 Dec 1;195(11):5136-48. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500332. Epub 2015 Nov 4.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prevent Systemic Bone Loss in Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

Garimella MG¹, Kour S¹, Piprode V¹, Mittal M², Kumar A¹, Rani L¹, Pote ST¹, Mishra GC¹, Chattopadhyay N², Wani MR³.

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¹National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, India; and.

²Division of Endocrinology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226 031, India.

³National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, India

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammatory synovitis leading to joint destruction and systemic bone loss. The inflammation-induced bone loss is mediated by increased osteoclast formation and function. Current antirheumatic therapies primarily target suppression of inflammatory cascade with limited or no success in controlling progression of bone destruction. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) by virtue of their tissue repair and immunomodulatory properties have shown promising results in various autoimmune and degenerative diseases. However, the role of MSCs in prevention of bone destruction in RA is not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) on in vitro formation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and pathological bone loss in the mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model of RA. We observed that ASCs significantly inhibited receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in both a contact-dependent and -independent manner. Additionally, ASCs inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in the presence of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-1β. Furthermore, treatment with ASCs at the onset of CIA significantly reduced clinical symptoms and joint pathology. Interestingly, ASCs protected periarticular and systemic bone loss in CIA mice by maintaining trabecular bone structure. We further observed that treatment with ASCs reduced osteoclast precursors in bone marrow, resulting in decreased osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, ASCs suppressed autoimmune T cell responses and increased the percentages of peripheral regulatory T and Bcells. Thus, we provide strong evidence that ASCs ameliorate inflammation-induced systemic bone loss in CIA mice by reducing osteoclast precursors and promoting immune tolerance.

BMC Vet Res. 2016 Mar 31;12:65. doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0692-x.

Inflammatory response to the administration of mesenchymal stem cells in an equine experimental model: effect of autologous, and single and repeat doses of pooled allogeneic cells in healthy joints.

Ardanaz N¹, Vázquez FJ¹, Romero A¹, Remacha AR², Barrachina L^1,2, Sanz A², Ranera B², Vitoria A¹, Albareda J³, Prades M⁴, Zaragoza P², Martín-Burriel I², Rodellar C⁵.

Author information

¹Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet, 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.

²Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica LAGENBIO, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet, 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.

³Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa, Universidad de Zaragoza, San Juan Bosco, 15, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.

⁴Departament de Medicina i Cirugia Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Edifici H, UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.

⁵Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica LAGENBIO, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet, 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation has become a promising therapeutic choice for musculoskeletal injuries. Joint-related disorders are highly prevalent in horses. Therefore, these animals are considered as suitable models for testing MSC-based therapies for these diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and inflammatory responses to intra-articular single and repeat dose administration of autologous or of pooled allogeneic MSCs in healthy equine healthy joints. Six horses were intra-articularly injected with a single autologous dose of bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and two separate doses of allogeneic BM-MSCs pooled from several donors. All contralateral joints were injected with Lactated Ringer’s Solution (LRS) as the control vehicle. Signs of synovitis and lameness were evaluated at days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 after injection. Total protein (TP), white blood cell count (WBC) and neutrophil count (NC) in synovial fluid were also measured at the same time-points.

RESULTS:

A mild synovial effusion without associated lameness was observed after all BM-MSCs injections. The second allogeneic injection caused the lowest signs of synovitis. Local temperature slightly increased after all BM-MSCs treatments compared to the controls. TP, WBC and NC in synovial fluids also increased during days 1 to 5 after all BM-MSCs injections. Both, clinical and synovial parameters were progressively normalized and by day 10 post-inoculation appeared indistinguishable from controls.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intra-articular administration of an allogeneic pool of BM-MSCs represents a safe therapeutic strategy to enhance MSCs availability. Importantly, the absence of hypersensitivity response to the second allogeneic BM-MSCs injection validates the use of repeat dose treatments to potentiate the therapeutic benefit of these cells. These results notably contribute to the development of stem cell based therapies for equine and human joint diseases.

KEYWORDS:

Allogeneic; Horses; Joint; MSCs; Mesenchymal stem cells