Autologous Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined with Shockwave Therapy Synergistically Ameliorates the Osteoarthritic Pathological Factors in Knee Joint

The application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on stem cells therapy to treat various diseases

In the last ten years, stem cell (SC) therapy has been extensively used to treat a range of conditions such as degenerative illnesses, ischemia-related organ dysfunction, diabetes, and neurological disorders. However, the clinical application of these therapies is limited due to the poor survival and differentiation potential of stem cells (SCs). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), as a non-invasive therapy, has shown great application potential in enhancing the proliferation, differentiation, migration, and recruitment of stem cells, offering new possibilities for utilizing ESWT in conjunction with stem cells for the treatment of different systemic conditions. The review provides a detailed overview of the advances in using ESWT with SCs to treat musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, genitourinary, and nervous system conditions, suggesting that ESWT is a promising strategy for enhancing the efficacy of SC therapy for various diseases.

Effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of cultured equine umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells

There is a knowledge gap regarding the effect of extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) on the stress response and immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of equine umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells (CB-MSCs). The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of cellular oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and production of growth factors in CB-MSCs after treatment with ESWT. We hypothesized that CB-MSCs treated with ESWT will experience higher levels of cellular stress and increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors compared to untreated CB-MSCs.

Effect of three clinical therapies on cytokines modulation in the hip articular cartilage and bone improvement in rat early osteonecrosis of the femoral head

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have been used clinically for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). The study elucidated that ESWT, ADSCs, and combination therapy modulated pro-inflammatory cytokines in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone of early rat ONFH.

METHODS

ESWT and ADSCs were prepared and isolated for treatment. Micro-CT, pathological analysis, and immunohistochemistry were performed and analysed.

RESULTS

After treatments, subchondral bone of ONFH was improved in trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) (p < 0.001), thickness (Tb.Th) (p < 0.01 and 0.001), and separation (Tb.Sp) (p < 0.001) and bone mineral density (BMD) (p < 0.001) using micro-CT analysis. The articular cartilage was protected and decreased apoptosis markers after all the treatments. The expression of IL33 (p < 0.001), IL5 (p < 0.001), IL6 (p < 0.001), and IL17A (p < 0.01) was significantly decreased in the ESWT, ADSCs, and Combination groups as compared with ONFH group. The IL33 receptor ST2 was significantly increased after treatment (p < 0.001) as compared with ONFH group. The Combination group (p < 0.01) decreased the expression of IL6 better than the ESWT and ADSCs groups.

CONCLUSION

ESWT, ADSCs and combination therapy significantly protected articular cartilage and subchondral bone of early rat ONFH by modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including, IL33 and its receptor ST2, IL5, IL6, and IL17A.

Cell-based therapies have disease-modifying effects on osteoarthritis in animal models. A systematic review by the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative. Part 1: adipose tissue-derived cell-based injectable therapies

PURPOSE

The aim of this systematic review was to determine if adipose tissue-derived cell-based injectable therapies can induce disease-modifying effects in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

A systematic review was performed on three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) according to PRISMA guidelines. A synthesis of the results was performed investigating disease-modifying effects in preclinical studies comparing injectable adipose-derived products with OA controls or other products, different formulations or injection intervals, and the combination with other products. The risk of bias was assessed according to the SYRCLE's tool.

RESULTS

Seventy-one studies were included (2,086 animals) with an increasing publication trend over time. Expanded cells were used in 65 studies, 3 studies applied point of care products, and 3 studies investigated both approaches. Overall, 48 out of 51 studies (94%) reported better results with adipose-derived products compared to OA controls, with positive findings in 17 out of 20 studies (85%) in macroscopic, in 37 out of 40 studies (93%) in histological, and in 22 out of 23 studies (96%)  in immunohistochemical evaluations. Clinical and biomarker evaluations showed positive results in 14 studies out of 18 (78%) and 12 studies out of 14 (86%), while only 9 studies out of 17 (53%) of the imaging evaluations were able to detect differences versus controls. The risk of bias was low in 38% of items, unclear in 51%, and high in (11%).

CONCLUSION

The current preclinical models document consistent evidence of disease-modifying effects of adipose-derived cell-based therapies for the treatment of OA. The high heterogeneity of the published studies highlights the need for further targeted research to provide recommendations on the optimal methodologies for a more effective application of these injective therapies for the treatment of OA in clinical practice.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Conditioned Medium Modulates the Expression of Inflammation Induced Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2, -5 and -6 as Well as Compared with Shockwave Therapy on Rat Knee Osteoarthritis

The dose-dependent effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) were compared with those of shockwave (SW) therapy in the treatment of early osteoarthritis (OA). Anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MMx) was performed in rats divided into sham, OA, SW, CM1 (intra-articular injection of 100 μL ADSC-CM into knee OA), and CM2 (intra-articular injection of 200 μL ADSC-CM) groups. Cartilage grading, grading of synovium changes, and specific molecular analysis by immunohistochemistry staining were performed. The OARSI and synovitis scores of CM2 and SW group were significantly decreased compared with those of the OA group (p < 0.05). The inflammatory markers interleukin 1β, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and matrix metalloproteinase 13 were significantly reduced in the CM2 group compared to those in the SW and CM1 groups (p < 0.001). Cartilage repair markers (type II collagen and SRY-box transcription factor 9, SOX9) expression were significantly higher in the CM2 group than in the other treatment groups (p < 0.001; p < 0.05). Furthermore, inflammation-induced growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), BMP5, and BMP6 were significantly reduced in the treatment groups, and the CM2 group showed the best results among the treatments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ADSC-CM and SW ameliorated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-induced BMPs to protect the articular cartilage of the OA joint.