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Background: Human autologous serum (AS) and umbilical cord serum (UCS) both contain growth and neurotrophic factors that promote corneal healing., Aim: Our objectives were to compare equine AS and UCS cytokine and growth factor profiles and to assess the safety and clinical feasibility of the therapeutic use of UCS eye drops in cases of spontaneous complex ulcers., Study Design: Prospective clinical trial., Methods: Vitamin A insulin growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were determined in 10 AS collected from different horses and 10 UCS sampled at delivery. Six client-owned horses presenting with complex non-healing corneal defects of >5 mm 2 were included in a clinical trial and treated with conventional therapy and conditioned UCS drops for 8-15 days. Ulcer surface and time to complete epithelialization were recorded., Results: Median concentrations of vitamin A, insulin growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB were not significantly different in AS compared with UCS (respectively, 14.5 vs . 12.05 μg/ml; 107.8 vs . 107.3 pg/ml; and 369.1 vs . 924.2 pg/ml). TGF-β1 median concentration in UCS was significantly higher than in AS (3,245 vs . 2571pg/ml) ( p = 0.04). IL-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were variable in AS and undetectable in UCS. The corneal median ulcerative area was 37.2 mm 2 (6.28-57.14 mm 2 ) and had a duration of 4-186 days (median 19 days). All lesions healed within 13-42 days (median 17 days). No adverse effects nor recurrences within 1 month were noticed., Limitations: The sample size was small. Spontaneous corneal epithelial defects presented with variable clinical characteristics. There were no age-matched control horses to assess corneal healing time and rate., Conclusion and Clinical Significance: Equine UCS may be beneficial, as it contains no pro-inflammatory cytokines and a greater concentration of TGF-β1 compared with AS. Topical UCS appears safe and may potentially be used as adjunctive therapy for equine complex non-healing ulcers., Competing Interests: SM and NS are employees and shareholders of Vetbiobank at the time of the submission for publication. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Peyrecave-Capo, Saulnier, Maddens, Gremillet and Desjardins.)

Objective: To explore the long-term safety and efficacy of canine allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) administered intra-articularly as single or repeated injections in appendicular joints of dogs affected by moderate to severe refractory osteoarthritis. Study Design: 22 pet dogs were recruited into a non-randomized, open and monocentric study initially administering one cellular injection. A second injection was offered after 6 months to owners if the first injection did not produce expected results. Materials and Methods: Anti-inflammatory treatment (if prescribed) was discontinued at last one week before the onset of treatment. Each injection consisted of at least 10 million viable neonatal allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells obtained from fetal adnexa. Medical data was collected from veterinary clinical evaluations of joints up to 6 months post-injection and owner's assessment of their dog's mobility and well-being followed for a further 2 years when possible. Results: Mild, immediate self-limiting inflammatory joint reactions were observed in 5/22 joints after the first injection, and in almost all dogs having a subsequent injection. No other MSC-related adverse medical events were reported, neither during the 6 months follow up visits, nor during the long-term (2-years) safety follow up. Veterinary clinical evaluation showed a significant and durable clinical improvement (up to 6 months) following MSC administration. Eight dogs (11 joints) were re-injected 6 months apart, sustaining clinical benefits up to 1 year. Owner's global satisfaction reached 75% at 2 years post-treatment Conclusion: Our data suggest that a single or repeated intra-articular administration of neonatal MSC in dogs with moderate to severe OA is a safe procedure and confer clinical benefits over a 24-month period. When humoral response against MSC is investigated by flow cytometry, a positive mild and transient signal was detected in only one dog from the studied cohort, this dog having had a positive clinical outcome.

Objective: Compare the clinical and pressure walkway gait evolution of dogs after a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for a cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) and treatment with either a 1-month course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a single postoperative intra-articular (IA) injection of allogeneic neonatal mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)., Study Design: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled, monocentric clinical study., Animals: Sixteen client-owned dogs., Materials and Methods: Dogs with unilateral CrCLR confirmed by arthroscopy were included. Allogeneic neonatal canine MSCs were obtained from fetal adnexa retrieved after C-section performed on healthy pregnant bitches. The dogs were randomly allocated to either the "MSCs group," receiving an IA injection of MSCs after TPLO, followed by placebo for 1 month, or the "NSAIDs group," receiving IA equivalent volume of MSCs vehicle after TPLO, followed by oral NSAID for 1 month. One of the three blinded evaluators assessed the dogs in each group before and after surgery (1, 3, and 6 months). Clinical score and gait and bone healing process were assessed. The data were statistically compared between the two groups for pre- and postoperative evaluations., Results: Fourteen dogs (nine in the MSCs group, five in the NSAIDs group) completed the present study. No significant difference was observed between the groups preoperatively. No local or systemic adverse effect was observed after MSCs injection at any time point considered. At 1 month after surgery, bone healing scores were significantly higher in the MSCs group. At 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, no significant difference was observed between the two groups for clinical scores and gait evaluation., Conclusion: A single IA injection of allogeneic neonatal MSCs could be a safe and valuable postoperative alternative to NSAIDs for dogs requiring TPLO surgery, particularly for dogs intolerant to this class of drugs.