VMX 2026 Proceedings References: Stem Cell Applications in Dogs and Cats

by Rebecca Windsor DVM, DACVIM
  1. Black LL, Gaynor J, Gahring D, et al. Effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells on lameness in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joints: a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, controlled trial. Vet Ther Res Appl Vet Med. 2007;8(4):272-284.
  2. Black LL, Gaynor J, Adams C, et al. Effect of intraarticular injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells on clinical signs of chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow joint in dogs. Vet Ther Res Appl Vet Med. 2008;9(3):192-200.
  3. Soltero-Rivera M, Goldschmidt S, Arzi B. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis: current concepts in clinical management. J Feline Med Surg. 2023;25(8):1098612X231186834. doi:10.1177/1098612X231186834
  4. Arzi B, Mills-Ko E, Verstraete FJM, et al. Therapeutic Efficacy of Fresh, Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Severe Refractory Gingivostomatitis in Cats. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2016;5(1):75-86. doi:10.5966/sctm.2015-0127
  5. Taechangam N, Walker NJ, Borjesson DL. Feline adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells induce effector phenotype and enhance cytolytic function of CD8+ T cells. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2021;12(1):495. doi:10.1186/s13287-021-02558-5
  6. Teshima T, Yasumura Y, Suzuki R, Matsumoto H. Antiviral Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Secretome against Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus Type 1. Viruses. 2022;14(8):1687. doi:10.3390/v14081687
  7. Arzi B, Clark KC, Sundaram A, et al. Therapeutic Efficacy of Fresh, Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Severe Refractory Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017;6(8):1710-1722. doi:10.1002/sctm.17-0035
  8. Arzi B, Peralta S, Fiani N, et al. A multicenter experience using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cats with chronic, non-responsive gingivostomatitis. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2020;11(1):115. doi:10.1186/s13287-020-01623-9
  9. Febre M, Maddens S, Robert C, Rakic R, Plantier N, Saulnier N. Single infusion of allogeneic neonatal Mesenchymal stromal cells to manage refractory feline gingivostomatitis- A clinical pilot study. Cytotherapy. 2020;22(5):S102. doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.03.182
  10. Soltero-Rivera M, Hart S, Blandino A, Vapniarsky N, Arzi B. Mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for feline chronic gingivostomatitis: Long term experience. Front Vet Sci. 2023;10:1171922. doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1171922
  11. Febre M, Saulnier N, Roux P, et al. Placenta‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells as a treatment for refractory chronic gingivostomatitis in cats: eight cases (2018). J Small Anim Pract. 2023;64(4):296-305. doi:10.1111/jsap.13583
  12. Beerts C, Pauwelyn G, Depuydt E, et al. Homing of radiolabelled xenogeneic equine peripheral blood-derived MSCs towards a joint lesion in a dog. Front Vet Sci. 2022;9:1035175. doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.1035175
  13. Sajadi S, Khadembashiri MA, Raissi G, et al. The role of adipose-derived stem cells in knee osteoarthritis treatment: insights from a triple-blind clinical study. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2025;16(1):242. doi:10.1186/s13287-025-04233-5
  14. Sasaki A, Mizuno M, Mochizuki M, Sekiya I. Mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage regeneration in dogs. World J Stem Cells. 2019;11(5):254-269. doi:10.4252/wjsc.v11.i5.254
  15. Gruen ME, Messenger KM, Thomson AE, et al. Evaluation of serum cytokines in cats with and without degenerative joint disease and associated pain. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2017;183:49-59. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2016.12.007
  16. Gao X, Lee J, Malladi S, Melendez L, Lascelles BDX, Al-Murrani S. Feline degenerative joint disease: a genomic and proteomic approach. J Feline Med Surg. 2013;15(6):466-477. doi:10.1177/1098612X12470652
  17. Spitznagel MB, Gober MW, Patrick K. Caregiver burden in cat owners: a cross-sectional observational study. J Feline Med Surg. 2023;25(1):1098612X221145835. doi:10.1177/1098612X221145835
  18. Mitani K, Ito Y, Takene Y, Inaba T. Evaluation of the quality of life-enhancing effect of allogeneic feline adipose mesenchymal stem cells in cats with osteoarthritis: A pilot study. Res Vet Sci. 2025;182:105470. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105470
  19. Enciso N, Amiel J, Pando J, Enciso J. Multidose intramuscular allogeneic adipose stem cells decrease the severity of canine atopic dermatitis: A pilot study. Vet World. 2019;12(11):1747-1754. doi:10.14202/vetworld.2019.1747-1754
  20. Webb TL, Webb CB. Stem cell therapy in cats with chronic enteropathy: a proof-of-concept study. J Feline Med Surg. 2015;17(10):901-908. doi:10.1177/1098612X14561105
  21. Webb TL, Webb CB. Comparing adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with prednisolone for the treatment of feline inflammatory bowel disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(8):e244-e250. doi:10.1177/1098612X221104053
  22. Cristóbal JI, Duque FJ, Usón-Casaús JM, Ruiz P, Nieto EL, Pérez-Merino EM. Effects of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with and without Corticosteroids. Anim Open Access J MDPI. 2021;11(7):2061. doi:10.3390/ani11072061
  23. Cristóbal JI, Duque FJ, Usón-Casaús J, Barrera R, López E, Pérez-Merino EM. Complete Blood Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers Changes in Dogs with Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy Treated with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Animals. 2022;12(20):2798. doi:10.3390/ani12202798
  24. Reinero CR, Chang CH, Webb T, et al. Evaluation Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells For Experimental Feline Asthma; Results Of A Pilot Study. In: B37. NEW INSIGHTS INTO ASTHMA AND COPD TREATMENT. American Thoracic Society; 2012:A2852-A2852. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2012.185.1_MeetingAbstracts.A2852
  25. Trzil JE, Masseau I, Webb TL, et al. Intravenous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of feline asthma: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18(12):981-990. doi:10.1177/1098612X15604351
  26. Trzil JE, Masseau I, Webb TL, et al. Long-term evaluation of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in a feline model of chronic allergic asthma. Clin Exp Allergy J Br Soc Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;44(12):1546-1557. doi:10.1111/cea.12411
  27. Zeira O, Asiag N, Aralla M, et al. Adult autologous mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of suspected non-infectious inflammatory diseases of the canine central nervous system: safety, feasibility and preliminary clinical findings. J Neuroinflammation. 2015;12(1):181. doi:10.1186/s12974-015-0402-9
  28. Windsor RC, Stewart S, Cassano JM, et al. Intravenous allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell therapy in 13 Pugs with presumptive early necrotizing meningoencephalitis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. Published online August 1, 2025:1-10. doi:10.2460/javma.25.05.0354
Rebecca Windsor DVM, DACVIM
Rebecca Windsor DVM, DACVIM

Vice President of Veterinary Affairs at Gallant

Dr. Rebecca Windsor, DVM, DACVIM, is a board-certified veterinary neurologist with over 20 years of clinical experience and a strong record of scientific publication. She joined Gallant in 2025 and serves as Vice President of Veterinary Affairs.

Dr. Windsor specializes in veterinary regenerative medicine, with a focus on advancing FDA-approved, off-the-shelf mesenchymal stem cell therapies for pets. She develops educational platforms that translate the science, safety, and clinical efficacy of stem cell therapy for veterinary professionals. Since 2019, she has served as a Clinician Scientist at Ethos Discovery, where she leads the neurology research portfolio.