Author: Marc Bordelon, DVM, MBA

Overview

Regenerative medicine, a term originally coined in human medicine, gained popularity with the exploration of stem cells in tissue engineering.  Today, it represents a broad and evolving field of medicine, encompassing a wide range of treatment options across both the human and animal space. Regenerative medicine often involves the use of biological components such as stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and amniotic-derived cells from birth tissue. These components can be sourced from like species (autologous/allogenic) or a different species (xenogenic).

Regenerative Medicine in the Veterinary Practice

While regenerative medicine has been used in human healthcare dating back to the early 1900s, the use of this type of treatment is fairly new to the veterinary space. Many of the early adopters of this therapy have been in the field of equine medicine, where stem cells and platelet rich plasma (PRP) are often utilized. 

There has been growing interest in regenerative medicine within the small animal field, largely driven by the recognized benefits of such therapies in human and equine medicine. Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on managing symptoms, the goal of regenerative medicine is to improve health conditions by providing components that can seek out and address the root causes of tissue damage and/or inflammation. By utilizing biologically active factors such as cytokines, growth factors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and exosomes, regenerative medicine can help to provide the body with the tools it needs to support healing and decrease inflammation. 

Ultimately, regenerative medicine gives veterinarians greater choice in how they improve patient health and enhance outcomes for a wide range of conditions that pets experience.

Key Takeaways

• Regenerative medicine is a large and rapidly growing field in both human and animal healthcare
• The goal of regenerative medicine is to use naturally existing components to provide a framework that helps support healing and decrease inflammation
• There are multiple types of regenerative therapies available
• Interest in regenerative medicine for the small animal population is on the rise