Identifying Ways to Control Stem Cell Behavior to Improve Regenerative Therapies

Stem cells have the potential to treat a wide variety of inflammatory and degenerative diseases in animals; however, little is known about how the recipient's body possibly affects the expression and function of transplanted stem cells. To fill this knowledge gap, researchers will investigate how macrophages, which are white blood cells naturally found in injured tissue sites targeted for therapy, influence the function of transplanted stem cells. This new information may help researchers identify ways to control stem cell behavior after transplantation and improve regenerative stem cell therapies in horses and other animals.