Regenerative Medicine Applied to Musculoskeletal Diseases in Equines: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries in horses have a great economic impact, predominantly affecting tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, which have limited natural regeneration. Cell therapy, which uses mesenchymal stem cells due to their tissue differentiation properties and anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects, aims to restore damaged tissue. In this manuscript, we performed a systematic review using the Parsifal tool, searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles on regenerative medicine for equine musculoskeletal injuries. Our review covers 17 experimental clinical studies categorized by the therapeutic approach used: platelet-rich plasma, conditioned autologous serum, mesenchymal stem cells, and secretome. These therapies reduce healing time, promote regeneration of fibrocartilaginous tissue, improve cellular organization, and improve joint functionality and sustainability. In conclusion, regenerative therapies using platelet-rich plasma, conditioned autologous serum, equine mesenchymal stem cells, and the emerging field of the secretome represent a promising and highly effective approach for the treatment of joint pathologies in horses, implying a valuable advance in equine healthcare.

Keywords

• horse
• osteoarthritis
• musculoskeletal disease
• regenerative therapy
• mesenchymal stem cells