Correcting metabolic deficits with allogeneic bone marrow stem cells in the cat

We investigated the potential of allogeneic lipoprotein lipase (LpL) +/+ expressing bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) to correct the metabolic deficiency in LpL‐/‐ cats. Bone marrow was harvested from LpL+/+ cats and fifty million MSCs injected into LpL‐/‐ cats twice using two week intervals. Plasma turbidity, triglycerides, cholesterol and lipase activity were monitored prior to and following the injection of the MSCs. Injection of MSCs resulted in a decrease in the plasma lipid profile three to five days following administration. Following the first injection, there was a modest decrease in plasma turbidity and lipids that correlated with a slight increase in LpL activity. The second injection resulted in a much larger increase in LpL activity and a greater decrease in plasma turbidity and lipids. Injection of allogeneic MSCs corrects the LpL‐/‐ genetic defect and transiently returns the plasma lipid profile to near normal in a dose dependent manner. The enhanced response following the second injection suggests an accumulation of LpL+/+ MSCs might occur. Using this dose and injection protocol, the bi‐phasic duration of therapeutic action appears to last approximately three months. This is a very powerful and robust animal model for studying cytokinetics and cytotherapeutics. This research was support by the Center for Companion Animal Research at U C Davis and the Winn Feline Research Foundation.