Browsing by Author "Porto, Beatriz"
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- Allogenic synovia-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of equine tendinopathies and desmopathies — proof of conceptPublication . Reis, Inês Leal; Lopes, Bruna; Sousa, Patrícia; Sousa, Ana Catarina; Branquinho, Mariana; Caseiro, Ana Rita; Pedrosa, Sílvia Santos; Rêma, Alexandra; Oliveira, Cláudia; Porto, Beatriz; Atayde, Luís; Amorim, Irina; Alvites, Rui; Santos, Jorge Miguel; Maurício, Ana ColetteTendon and ligament injuries are frequent in sport horses and humans, and such injuries represent a significant therapeutic challenge. Tissue regeneration and function recovery are the paramount goals of tendon and ligament lesion management. Nowadays, several regenerative treatments are being developed, based on the use of stem cell and stem cell-based therapies. In the present study, the preparation of equine synovial membrane mesenchymal stem cells (eSM-MSCs) is described for clinical use, collection, transport, isolation, differentiation, characterization, and application. These cells are fibroblast-like and grow in clusters. They retain osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation potential. We present 16 clinical cases of tendonitis and desmitis, treated with allogenic eSM-MSCs and autologous serum, and we also include their evaluation, treatment, and follow-up. The concerns associated with the use of autologous serum as a vehicle are related to a reduced immunogenic response after the administration of this therapeutic combination, as well as the pro-regenerative effects from the growth factors and immunoglobulins that are part of its constitution. Most of the cases (14/16) healed in 30 days and presented good outcomes. Treatment of tendon and ligament lesions with a mixture of eSM-MSCs and autologous serum appears to be a promising clinical option for this category of lesions in equine patients.
- Rat olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (om-mscs): a characterization studyPublication . Alvites, Rui D.; Branquinho, Mariana V.; Caseiro, Ana R.; Amorim, Irina; Pedrosa, Sílvia Santos; Rêma, Alexandra; Faria, Fátima; Porto, Beatriz; Oliveira, Cláudia; Teixeira, Paula; Magalhães, Rui; Geuna, Stefano; Varejão, Artur S. P.; Maurício, Ana C.Stem/stromal cell-based therapies are a branch of regenerative medicine and stand as an attractive option to promote the repair of damaged or dysfunctional tissues and organs. Olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells have been regarded as a promising tool in regenerative therapies because of their several favorable properties such as multipotency, high proliferation rate, helpful location, and few associated ethical issues. These cells are easily accessible in the nasal cavity of most mammals, including the rat, can be easily applied in autologous treatments, and do not cope with most of the obstacles associated with the use of other stem cells. Despite this, its application in preclinical trials and in both human and animal patients is still limited because of the small number of studies performed so far and to the nonexistence of a standard and unambiguous protocol for collection, isolation, and therapeutic application. In the present work a validation of a protocol for isolation, culture, expansion, freezing, and thawing of olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem/stromal cells was performed, applied to the rat model, as well as a biological characterization of these cells. To investigate the therapeutic potential of OM-MSCs and their eventual safe application in preclinical trials, the main characteristics of OMSC stemness were addressed.