Mudasir Bashir Gugjoo

Mesenchymal stem cells with IGF-1 and TGF- β1 in laminin gel for osteochondral defects in rabbits

OBJECTIVE Healing of articular cartilage is still a challenge due to its limited potential to regenerate. In the present study, we evaluated allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) alone or in combination with growth factors, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in laminin scaffolds for healing of osteochondral defects. DESIGN Osteochondral defects of 4mm (diameter) x 5mm (depth) were induced in the rabbit knee joints and treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; control), BM-MSCs, BM-MSCs in laminin, BM-MSCs in laminin with IGF-1, or BM-MSCs in laminin with IGF-1 and TGF-β1 in 10 animals each. Gross, radiographic, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and histologic examinations besides chondrocyte-specific genes expression by quantitative real time qPCR were carried out at 8 and 12 weeks. RESULTS Gross and SEM examination revealed superior morphology and surface architecture of the healing site in animals that received MSCs with IGF-1 or IGF-1 and TGF-β1. The application of laminin composites containing MSCs with IGF-1 and TGF-β1 significantly enhanced hyaline cartilage formation with improved cellular arrangement, proteoglycan deposition, clear tidemark zone and subchondral bone formation. However, regenerated tissue in defects that received only MSCs had poor tidemark zone and proteoglycans deposition Aggrecan and Coll2 expression was significantly higher in case of MSCs with growth factors. CONCLUSION The treatment with BM-MSCs combined with IGF-1/TGF-β1 into laminin gel scaffold might enhance the restoration of hyaline cartilage in osteochondral defect.

Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Properties, Sources, Characterization And Potential Therapeutic Applications

&NA; Properties like sustained multiplication and self‐renewal, and homing and multilineage differentiation to undertake repair of the damaged tissues make stem cells the lifeline for any living system. Therefore, stem cell therapy is regarded to carry immense therapeutic potential. Though the dearth of understanding about the basic biological properties and pathways involved in therapeutic benefits currently limit the application of stem cells in humans as well as animals, there are innumerable reports that suggest clinical benefits of stem cell therapy in equine. Among various stem cell sources, currently adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are preferred for therapeutic application in horse owing to their easy availability, capacity to modulate inflammation, and promote healing. Also the cells carry very limited teratogenic risk compared to the pluripotent stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells were earlier considered mainly for musculoskeletal tissues, but now may also be utilized in other diverse clinical problems in horse, and the results may be extrapolated even for human medicine. The current review highlights biological properties, sources, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic applications of stem cells in equine practice.

Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in thoracic radiographs of Indian Spitz, Labrador retriever and Mongrel dogs

Aim: To establish reference values of vertebral heart score (VHS) in Indian Spitz, Labrador retriever, and Mongrel dogs; to assess applicability of VHS in these three dog breeds; to determine if breed, recumbency side, gender, body weight, and thoracic depth (TD) to thoracic width (TW) ratio has an influence on the VHS measurement in these dog breeds. Materials and Methods: A total of 60, client owned, clinically healthy Indian Spitz (n=20, mean age = 4.25±2.15 years, body weight = 11.87±2.7 kg), Labrador retriever (n=20, mean age = 4.75±1.91 years, body weight = 27.31±5.43 kg), and Mongrel dogs (n=20, mean age = 4.25±1.52 years, body weight = 16.25±3.99 kg), having no radiological and clinical signs of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease were included in the study. All dogs were restrained manually and left lateral (LL) and right lateral (RL) radiographic views were obtained. The size of heart in lateral radiographs was calculated using VHS method. Besides, the TD, TW and TD: TW were calculated to determine the type of thoracic conformation in the dog breeds. In addition to this, the effect of breed, side of recumbency, gender, body weight, and TD to TW ratio on the calculation of VHS was determined. Results: VHS was calculated in all the animals of the breeds. VHS in Spitz and Labrador retriever was significantly (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively) >9.7±0.5 v. RL and LL VHS in Mongrel dog was significantly (p<0.037) >9.7±0.5 v. Significant (p<0.05) differences in the VHS were observed among Spitz, Labrador retriever and Mongrel dogs, being higher for Labrador retriever followed by Spitz and Mongrel dogs. VHS in RL recumbency was significantly (p<0.001) greater than VHS in LL recumbency in all three breeds. LL and RL VHS correlated significantly with each other in Spitz (r=0.58; p=0.02), Labrador retriever (r=0.87; p<0.0001), and Mongrel dogs (r=0.93; p<0.0001). Significant (p<0.05) differences in the TD and TW were observed among Spitz, Labrador retriever, and Mongrel dogs. Non-significant effect of gender, body weight, and TD to TW ratio on the VHS measurement was observed in each dog breed. Conclusion: Breed-specific VHS reference ranges should be used for the objective measurement of heart size in dogs. Furthermore, the radiographic view should also be taken into consideration to avoid any erroneous interpretation of cardiac enlargement in dogs.