The role of microvesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells in tissue regeneration; a dream for tendon repair?

Abstract

Tendon injuries represent even today a challenge as repair may be exceedingly slow and incomplete. Regenerative medicine and stem cell technology have shown to be of great promise. Here, we will review the current knowledge on the mechanisms of the regenerative potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from different sources (bone marrow, fat, cord blood, placenta). More specifically, we will devote attention to the current use of MSCs that have been used experimentally and in limited numbers of clinical cases for the surgical treatment of subchondral-bone cysts, bone-fracture repair and cartilage repair. Based on the recently emerging role in regenerative mechanisms of soluble factors and of extracellular vesicles, we will discuss the potential of non-cellular therapies in horse tendon injuries.

Keywords: horse tendinopathies; microvesicles; regenerative medicine; soluble factors; stem cells.

Figures

Figure 1

Severe SDFT core lesion in a forelimb SDFT. Arrows show anechoic area in transverse (A) ultrasound scans, and slightly ipoechoic area in transverse (B) ultrasound sections, respectively, in the same lesion 50 days after amniotic derived cells implant.

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the potential anti-inflammatory action of microvesicles (MVs) released by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on horse tendon.