Transplant of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Halts Fatty Atrophy of Detached Rotator Cuff Muscle After Tendon Repair: Molecular, Microscopic, and Macroscopic Results From an Ovine Model

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background The injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) mitigates fat accumulation in released rotator cuff muscle after tendon repair in rodents. Purpose To investigate whether the injection of autologous MSCs halts muscle-to-fat conversion after tendon repair in a large animal model for rotator cuff tendon release via regional effects on extracellular fat tissue and muscle fiber regeneration. Study design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Infraspinatus (ISP) muscles of the right shoulder of Swiss Alpine sheep (n = 14) were released by osteotomy and reattached 16 weeks later without (group T; n = 6) or with (group T-MSC; n = 8) electropulse-assisted injection of 0.9 Mio fluorescently labeled MSCs as microtissues with media in demarcated regions; animals were allowed 6 weeks of recovery. ISP volume and composition were documented with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Area percentages of muscle fiber types, fat, extracellular ground substance, and fluorescence-positive tissue; mean cross-sectional area (MCSA) of muscle fibers; and expression of myogenic (myogenin), regeneration (tenascin-C), and adipogenic markers (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPARG2]) were quantified in injected and noninjected regions after recovery. Results At 16 weeks after tendon release, the ISP volume was reduced and the fat fraction of ISP muscle was increased

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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