Introduction
In individuals with obesity or overweight, local trauma, high performance athletes and elderly people, the incidence of knee osteoarthritis increases and is more frequent in women than in men after the age of 50 years (8, 9).
In osteoarthritis, inflammation is enhanced by the production of substances secreted by synovial fibroblasts which attract immune system cells that accumulate in the knee joint capsule favoring bone absorption and joint destruction (10). MSC differentiation contributes to regenerate the damaged tissue and at the same time regulates the local immune response which reduces inflammation (11). MSCs secrete growth factors and anti-inflammatory substances. The interaction of cells and their physicochemical microenvironment is dynamic and is especially important in some tissues that exhibit mechanical resistance such as cartilage and bone.
Benefits a patient with osteoarthritis of the knee can expect after stem cell injection
Reduction of pain, restoration of physical function and cartilage quality. Scientific studies have shown overall clinical improvement from the third month and structural improvement from the sixth month. All studies indicate a maximum clinical structural benefit one year after the procedure evident up to two years. This makes it an effective long-term treatment compared to conventional treatments such as application of platelet rich plasma, platelet lysate and in some cases may delay surgery.
References
1- Kirkendall DT, Garrett Jr WE. Management of the retired athlete with osteoarthritis of the knee. Cartilage. 2012;3(1_suppl):69S-76S.
2- Zheng H, Chen C. Body mass index and risk of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ open. 2015;5(12):e007568.
3- Morrison NA, Day CJ, Nicholson GC. Dominant negative MCP-1 blocks human osteoclast differentiation. Journal of cellular biochemistry. 2014;115(2):303-12.
4- Fu X, Liu G, Halim A, Ju Y, Luo Q, Song G. Mesenchymal stem cell migration and tissue repair. Cells. 2019;8(8):784.
