Equine Hoof Stratum Internum K14+CD105+ Progenitor Cells: Culture, Characterization, and Model of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
October 2019
TLDR Equine hoof progenitor cells can help develop therapies for hoof diseases like laminitis.
The dissertation investigated the role of K14+CD105+ progenitor cells in equine hoof tissue, particularly in the context of laminitis, a condition characterized by hoof inflammation and tissue disarrangement. The study found that these progenitor cells, isolated from fresh and cryopreserved equine laminae, exhibited multilineage differentiation and varied behaviors depending on preharvest and postharvest conditions. The K14+CD105+ cells demonstrated a higher proliferation rate and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression, suggesting enhanced cell plasticity. Inflammatory cytokines were shown to increase EMT protein expression, indicating their role in promoting EMT. The findings provided insights into hoof cell composition and potential progenitor cell-based treatments for hoof injuries, contributing to the understanding of hoof disease prevention and tissue engineering.