GROUNDBREAKING research in the
field of cellular repair has the potential
to change animal husbandry.
Auckland scientist Dr Patrick Casey has
revealed his discoveries that threaten to
turn the field of cellular repair upside down
-for animals and ultimately humans.
The application, already successful in
horses, has far-reaching implications for
valuable stud stock. It has long been
accepted that mature cells are incapable of
dividing and replicating themselves.
This assumption has led to widespread
research into stem cells and bone marrow
cells and more specifically manipulating
them into "becoming"' cells dedicated to
other organs and body parts such as tendons.
Dr Casey might have altered the direction
of this research by successfully taking a
tendon biopsy from an injured horse and
inducing it to grow in the laboratory.
The new tendon was then put back in
place where it effected a seamless repair.
The resulting tendon was as good as new
and subsequent scans reveal no sign of the
injury.
Imagine a tendon as a rubber band. To be
effective, a rubber band needs to demonstrate
even flexibility across its surface.
If a portion of the rubber band becomes
dry or stiff it will likely break at this point.
Similarly, when a tendon tears or ruptures
and is allowed to mend by itself – or with
recent stem cell methods – there is resulting
scar tissue or a "knot"' of tendon cells
instead of even, parallel cell formation.
This scar tissue will always be a weak
point at which the tendon is likely to tear or
rupture again in the future.
Dr Casey's work leaves no scar tissue,
because the repair is effected by cells originating
from the tendon itself. The science
has now been proven in the field with top
open-class trotter Calder Sensation.
After suffering a career-ending tendon
injury, the trotter was treated by Dr Casey
and has since returned to racing with outstanding
results across the Tasman.
In its first post-op start, Calder Sensation
not only won but bolted home from out
wide and back in the pack on the last turn.
In its third race, it finished a creditable
fifth behind the "horse to beat" in Australia
currently, Acacia Ridge, and really started
to turn heads.
Calder Sensation's tendon was scanned
weekly and was described as: "effectively
good as new", though the horse itself was
still considered only
"80% fit", according to
its vet Dr James
Vanner.
It was not until
almost four months
after the injury was incurred
that Calder Sensation was presented for
treatment, making the recovery all the
more remarkable. Ideally, treatment should
begin within a fortnight of the injury.
Follow-up physiotherapy is a vital component
of the recovery process.
Immediately after treatment, the horse is
confined to box rest for one month followed
by a month of being restricted to a
walking machine. Only then is it allowed
back on the track to begin light work.
While previous research using stem cells
and the like requires at least one month
before replacement back into the tendon,
Dr Casey can grow the tendon in the lab in
about a week. This stops scar tissue forming
and making it difficult to find the exact
spot to place the tendon.
Dr Casey says the next application for his
work will be cartilage, which his team has
grown in the laboratory. Cartilage injuries
end more careers than those to tendons.
The cost of treatment is around $20,000,
and Dr Casey is making the technology
available to top-level centres of excellence
around the world.
Along with Calder Sensation, a number of
polo ponies and a show jumper have also
received the treatment, making similarly
successful returns to competition.
Before long, farmers may be offered new
alternatives to euthanasia for top breeding
and high performance stock.
The long-term potential applications of
this science are limitless with human applications
the ultimate goal.
It is hoped the technology may, one day,
be applied to replacement of vital human
organs to avoid risk of rejection.
With ethical issues marginalising stem
cell research not affecting Dr Casey's work
- only cells from the damaged body part
itself are employed – a legal team in
Washington DC is seeking FDA approval to
begin moving toward human applications
of the technology.
Email a friend