A new clinical approach: Use of blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) for superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in horses

Aims: In this study, we present an innovative therapy using stem cells that were obtained from the peripheral blood of racehorses affected by uninduced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries. Main methods: Blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) were generated from the blood samples of three horses in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The racehorses received a single autologous BDSC treatment, which resulted in the successful repair of the tendons injuries. Key findings: The results demonstrated that the BDSCs injection into the damaged tendon stimulated the regeneration of normal tissue. Furthermore, a relationship may exist between the speed and the quality of new tissue formation and the welfare and management of the treated animals. Significance: This study demonstrates that stem cell technology offers new tools for tissue repair that in many cases is considered incurable, and provides additional evidence that BDScs injections increase the speed and quality of the regeneration process in different animal tissues