What are mesenchymal stem cells?
In the animal body, there are cells that change (“differentiate”) into various organs and organs. These cells are called stem cells. Stem cell therapy is a treatment that regenerates lost organs or injuries by culturing these cells outside the body and returning them to the body.
Stem cell therapy utilizes two types of stem cells. One is myeloid stem cells, which are found in the bone marrow fluid contained in the bone marrow, and the other is adipose stem cells, which are found in subcutaneous fat.
Stem cells derived from bone marrow or subcutaneous fat are known to differentiate into cells that form bone, cartilage, muscle and cardiac muscle cells, and blood vessels. Stem cell therapy is a treatment that uses these differentiating abilities to “regenerate” the necessary organs and organs from one’s own cells.
Types of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy
| Bone marrow stem cell therapy (BMSC therapy) | Adipose stem cell therapy (ADSC therapy) |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Bone marrow fluid is collected from the animal and the stem cells in the bone marrow are cultured for two weeks to increase the number of cells. The increased number of cells is collected and administered into the body via injection or intravenous infusion. | Adipose stem cells are found in subcutaneous fat. A small amount of fat tissue is harvested from the animal, the stem cells are isolated, the cells are cultured, and after two weeks of increasing the cell count, the cells are collected, washed, and administered into the body via injection directly into the affected area or intravenously. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do stem cells do?
- Stem cells are being investigated for the treatment of bone fracture healing failure, spinal cord injury, and inflammatory arthritis. In bone fracture healing, stem cells are thought to repair the fracture site by differentiating into the periosteum (the membrane surrounding the bone), bone cells, and blood vessels that carry nutrients. In spinal cord injury, stem cells are thought to differentiate into blood vessels and restore blood flow to the injured area, thereby assisting the growth of nerve cells and promoting the remodeling of the entire spinal cord. In arthritis, stem cells are thought to cause new cartilage and periosteum to form in joints, relieving pain and reducing inflammation.
- How do you get the fat and marrow?
- When fat is removed, the patient is placed under general anesthesia and a small amount of fat the size of a pachinko ball is removed. When bone marrow fluid is extracted, general anesthesia is administered and a small amount of bone marrow fluid is extracted.
- Do I need to be hospitalized? How much does it cost?
- It depends on the animal’s condition and the type of disease. Please consult your veterinarian for more information.