Inês Esteves Dias

Intestinal organoids are three-dimensional in vitro structures derived from stem cells and serve as a valuable model for studying intestinal biology and pathophysiology. This study optimized the isolation, expansion, and differentiation of canine intestinal organoids from duodenum and colon. Organoids were generated from canine intestinal crypts and cultured in Matrigel with a growth factor cocktail. The impact of prostaglandin E ₂ (PGE ₂ ) concentration on organoid growth was evaluated, and a two-phase differentiation protocol—comprising patterning and differentiation media—was implemented, including interleukin (IL)-22 in the duodenal differentiation phase. Organoids cultured with 100 nM PGE ₂ exhibited increased crypt budding and organoid-forming efficiency, indicative of enhanced stem cell proliferation. Differentiated organoids expressed key intestinal markers (VIL1, SI, CHGA, MUC2), and forskolin-induced swelling demonstrated functional Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) activity. Although the sample size (n=2) limits generalizability, this optimized protocol provides a relevant in vitro model for studying canine intestinal function. The model can be used in future research for disease modelling and translational applications, supporting downstream studies in gastrointestinal disease, drug permeability, and comparative One Health research.

Novel treatments using autologous or allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are gaining traction in both human and veterinary medicine. MSC secrete mul

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective term for a group of chronic inflammatory enteropathies which are characterized by intestinal inflammation and persistent or frequent gastrointestinal signs. This disease affects more than 3.5 million humans worldwide and presents some similarities between animal species, in particular, dogs and cats. Although the underlying mechanism that triggers the disease is not yet well understood, the evidence suggests a multifactorial etiology implicating genetic causes, environmental factors, microbiota imbalance, and mucosa immune defects, both in humans and in dogs and cats. Conventional immunomodulatory drug therapies, such as glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants, are related with numerous adverse effects that limit its long-term use, creating the need to develop new therapeutic strategies. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) emerge as a promising alternative that attenuates intestinal inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokines in inflamed tissues, and also due to their pro-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, regenerative, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial potential. However, this therapeutic approach may have important limitations regarding the lack of studies, namely in veterinary medicine, lack of standardized protocols, and high economic cost. This review summarizes the main differences and similarities between human, canine, and feline IBD, as well as the potential treatment and future prospects of MSCs.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells, defined by their ability to self-renew, while maintaining the capacity to differentiate into different cellular lineages, presumably from their own germinal layer. MSCs therapy is based on its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative potential. Firstly, they can differentiate into the target cell type, allowing them to regenerate the damaged area. Secondly, they have a great immunomodulatory capacity through paracrine effects (by secreting several cytokines and growth factors to adjacent cells) and by cell-to-cell contact, leading to vascularization, cellular proliferation in wounded tissues, and reducing inflammation. Currently, MSCs are being widely investigated for numerous tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Appropriate animal models are crucial for the development and evaluation of regenerative medicine-based treatments and eventual treatments for debilitating diseases with the hope of application in upcoming human clinical trials. Here, we summarize the latest research focused on studying the biological and therapeutic potential of MSCs in the goat model, namely in the fields of orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, pneumology, cardiology, and urology fields.

Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells, with capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into tissues of mesodermal origin. These cells are possible therapeutic agents for autoimmune disorders, since they present remarkable immunomodulatory ability. The increase of immune-mediated diseases in veterinary medicine has led to a growing interest in the research of these disorders and their medical treatment. Conventional immunomodulatory drug therapy such as glucocorticoids or other novel therapies such as cyclosporine or monoclonal antibodies are associated with numerous side effects that limit its long-term use, leading to the need for developing new therapeutic strategies that can be more effective and safe. The aim of this review is to provide a critical overview about the therapeutic potential of these cells in the treatment of some autoimmune disorders (canine atopic dermatitis, feline chronic gingivostomatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and feline asthma) compared with their conventional treatment. Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy in autoimmune diseases has been showing that this approach can ameliorate clinical signs or even cause remission in most animals, with the exception of canine atopic dermatitis in which little to no improvement was observed. Although mesenchymal stem cells present a promising future in the treatment of most of these disorders, the variability in the outcomes of some clinical trials has led to the current controversy among authors regarding their efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy is currently requiring a deeper and detailed analysis that allows its standardization and better adaptation to the intended therapeutic results, in order to overcome current limitations in future trials.