Therapeutic Potential in Wound Healing of Allogeneic Use of Equine Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Wound healing after skin injury is a complex process, particularly in equines where leg wounds are prevalent and their repair is complicated due to the anatomical characteristics. Conventional treatments are not effective enough. The umbilical cord offers an unlimited source of adult mesenchymal stem cells (ucMSCs) from Wharton's jelly tissue. The present study aims to demonstrate the safety and therapeutic potential of the allogeneic use of equine ucMSCs (e-ucMSCs) in the healing of severe equine leg wounds. The methods employed were the isolation, culture and expansion of e-ucMSCs. Flow cytometry and a PCR assay were used for cell characterization. This study included an immunomodulation assay, a murine pre-clinical trial and the first phase of an equine clinical trial. Our results showed that e-ucMSCs express a functional HLA-G homolog, EQMHCB2. In the immunomodulation assay, the e-ucMSCs inhibited the proliferation of activated equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (e-PBMCs). In the murine pre-clinical trial, e-ucMSCs reduced healing time by 50%. In the equine clinical trial, the injection of e-ucMSCs into severe leg lesions improved the closure time and quality of the tissues involved, regenerating them without fibrous tissue scar formation. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that e-ucMSCs can be used allogeneically for wound healing by creating a tolerogenic environment.

HLA-G expression in transitional bladder carcinoma. Relationship with tumor invasion level and patient survival: Experience in a public hospital in Argentina.

Transitional carcinoma (TC) is the most common neoplasm of the bladder (80%). The immune checkpoint (IC) Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) expression has been demonstrated within numerous types of cancer and correlates with the degree of malignancy. This study aims for HLA-G expression in the bladder TC in a public hospital in Argentina linking its malignancy grade with the survival of the patients. We study thirty TC samples, in which we determine the invasion level and the HLA-G expression by immunohistochemistry. From all analyzed cases, 23 correspond to high-grade TC, of whom 91% presented HLA-G immunostaining and 83% compromised the muscularis propria layer of the bladder. Four patients in this group have not exceeded 5 years of survival. This data confirms that HLA-G expression in the bladder TC is associated with greater aggressiveness. Therefore, adding this immunostaining to the immunohistochemical panel used in the routine diagnosis of this neoplasm would be very useful.