Equine asthma is a common chronic disease of the respiratory tract that significantly affects horses' health and well-being. Current therapeutic strategies are based on symptomatic treatment and do not alter the disease's long-term progression, and their side effects are worrying.
Our study aimed to evaluate the local and systemic effects of intrabronchial administration of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) on severe equine asthma. Horses were randomly divided into two groups and treated with AD-MSC or dexamethasone. To determine the therapeutic effects of intrabronchial treatment with AD-MSC, we precisely defined clinical signs, and performed lung function tests and endoscopic examination of the airways in horses included in the study. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, and the samples were cytologically examined, and the mRNA expression values of specific inflammatory cytokines and the concentration of their proteins were measured. After treatment, the horses were monitored for another year, and the long-term stability of clinical signs between the two groups was compared. Although non-inferiority of AD-MSC treatment was not confirmed, improvement in certain inflammatory variables was observed after cell therapy. However, intrabronchial treatment with AD-MSC had a positive long-term effect on clinical stability of horses with severe asthma.
Results of the study indicate that intrabronchial treatment with AD-MSC has a limited short-term anti-inflammatory effect and a positive long-term clinical effect in asthmatic horses.
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