Scientists have successfully employed stem cell therapy to treat arthritis in a 46-year-old gorilla, Liesel, at Budapest Zoo. This pioneering effort offers hope for future advancements in animal care and human medicine.
Treating Liesel's Arthritis
At the venerable age of 46, Liesel, the oldest gorilla at Budapest Zoo, was facing an unexpected challenge - difficulty walking on her left leg.
Her caregivers, concerned about her well-being, suspected arthritis as the culprit.
Arthritis, a progressive joint disease that erodes cartilage and limits joint mobility, is commonly associated with aging, both in humans and in our primate relatives.
As IFLScience reports, recognizing the potential benefits of stem cell therapy, the zoo partnered with scientists from the University of Sheffield to undertake a revolutionary treatment.
First-of-Its-Kind Treatment
Liesel's arthritis treatment marked the first time mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were utilized on a gorilla.
These stem cells, sourced from a piece of fat tissue during a planned procedure on a younger gorilla named N'yaounda, held the potential to become various joint-related cells, including those that form cartilage.
A collaborative team effort ensued, led by Endre Sós, Chief Vet and Acting Director General at the Budapest Zoo, and Professor Mark Wilkinson, an Orthopaedic Surgeon renowned for his expertise in human arthritis treatment.
Liesel underwent a comprehensive assessment of her joints, after which MSCs were deployed to treat her hip and knee joints, significantly enhancing her quality of life.
A Unique Breakthrough
Osteoarthritis, the degenerative joint disease affecting Liesel, is notorious for its irreversible damage to cartilage. Current treatments focus on managing symptoms rather than repairing the damage, making the potential of stem cell therapy particularly promising.
Notably, researchers had previously explored stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis in other animals like rabbits, sheep, and dogs, but Liesel's case represented a unique breakthrough in primate care.
Stem CellX
The collaboration extended beyond traditional boundaries, as Stem CellX, a company born out of a partnership between international scientists specializing in stem cells, regenerative medicine, and genetics, joined the effort.
Their involvement allowed for the isolation, purification, and culture of the MSCs from N'yaounda's fat tissue, creating a suspension that could be preserved until treatment.
With this success, the implications extend beyond animal welfare. The collaborative effort between Budapest Zoo and the University of Sheffield has ignited hope for similar advancements in human medicine.
The team is now engaged in a preclinical research program with the ambitious goal of developing a parallel treatment for humans afflicted with osteoarthritis.
As Professor Mark Wilkinson expressed, "This work is in its very early stages but hopefully will lead to a real solution for patients to the pain and suffering that arthritis causes."
This pioneering collaboration not only offers Liesel a new lease on life but also holds the potential to revolutionize arthritis treatment for all species, transcending the boundaries of age and species.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Related Article: Dogs Can Detect COVID-19 Better Than Common Tech, New Study Claims
