Stem Cells for Immune Modulation and Antimicrobial Activity
Faculty in the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, use stem cells to suppress abnormal immune responses in inflammatory diseases such as asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. They are also investigating the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation in chronic kidney disease. More recent studies are now investigating the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their potential for inducing regeneration of organs such as the liver, kidney and spinal cord.
Current Studies
Stem cell therapy for suppression of chronic wound infection in dogs
Recent studies in the Center for Immune and Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) have uncovered unique biological properties of activated MSCs, which produce factors that potently suppress bacterial infections. Studies in rodent models have shown that MSCs treatment, combined with conventional antibiotic therapy, can significantly control chronic wound infections. A clinical trial in dogs with chronic wound infections with drug-resistant bacteria is being conducted to explore this treatment effect.
Program faculty: Drs. Valerie Johnson and Steven Dow
Stem Cells for Joint and Ligament Healing
Faculty in the Equine Orthopedic Research Center (ORC) are investigating the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to stimulate cartilage and ligament healing and to enhance tissue healing following sports-related injuries in horses.
Current Studies
Stem cell transfection with IL-1Ra to stimulate healing of cartilage and tendon injuries
Investigators in the ORC are studying the effects of joint injection with MSCs transfected to over-express the equine IL-1Ra gene in order to suppress joint inflammation and stimulate cartilage healing, using experimental and clinical equine models.
Program faculty: Drs. Wayne McIlwraith, Laurie Goodrich, and David Frisbie
Effects of in vitro differentiation on MSCs resistance to compressive forces as a model for cartilage healing
The use of MSCs offers the potential to one day regenerate new cartilage to repair chronic joint injuries in horses and humans. To help develop new MSCs-based therapies, researchers in the ORC are using in vitro assays with MSCs and growth factors and substrates to assess the impact of these factors on differentiation of MSCs into functional chondrocytes.
Program faculty: Drs. Wayne McIlwraith and David Frisbie
Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from dogs, cats and horses
Investigators at the CIRM and Gates Center for Stem Cell Research at UC Denver are developing new methods to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from adult tissues (skin, blood, joints) of dogs, cats and horses. iPSC have the ability to regenerate multiple different tissues in the body and can be derived from adult tissues rather than fetal tissues. Thus, iPSC have tremendous new potential in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. The iPSC will be used to regenerate new tissues to be used for spinal cord repair, joint and tendon repair, kidney repair, and suppression of bacterial infections in animals and in humans.
Program faculty: Drs. Steven Dow and Peter Koch
Stem cells for osteoarthritis in dogs
Studies are currently underway in the CIRM investigating the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to improve joint function, reduce joint pain, and stimulate cartilage repair in dogs with chronic degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis (OA). Pilot studies in dogs with OA treated by i.v. administration of MSC have shown notable improvement in function and reduction in joint pain. The Center is also exploring the use of iPSC-derived cells for treatment of canine OA.
Program faculty: Drs. Felix Duerr, Nastasha Olsen, Tracy Webb, and Valerie Johnson