Stem cell-produced microvesicles for treating tendon pathologies
Microvesicles produced by stem cells grown on a silk scaffold for enhancing stem cell self-renewal/proliferation and promoting tenogenesis in damaged tendons, and their use in tendon wound repair and tendinopathy treatment. Also provided are compositions containing the microvesicles and devices for obtaining them.
1. A method of treating a damaged tendon in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of microvesicles derived from mammalian mesenchymal stem cells effective to treat a damaged tendon, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells have been cultured on a silk scaffold prior to the microvesicles being derived from the mesenchymal stem cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microvesicles have been secreted from mesenchymal stem cells.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells at P1 to P3 have been cultured on the silk scaffold.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are adipose-derived MSC, bone marrow-derived MSC, bursa-derived MSC, or are tendon stem/progenitor cells.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are from the same species as the subject.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are from the same subject that is being treated.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the damaged tendon is damaged as a result of a tendinopathy.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the damaged tendon is damaged as a result of physical injury to the tendon.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the damaged tendon is a ruptured tendon.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of microvesicles is administered locally into the tendon.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of microvesicles is administered by injection.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of microvesicles has been cryopreserved prior to administration.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of microvesicles has been cryopreserved below 50° C.
14. A method of enhancing tenogenesis in a damaged tendon in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of microvesicles derived from mammalian mesenchymal stem cells effective to enhance tenogenesis, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells have been cultured on a silk scaffold prior to the microvesicles being derived from the mesenchymal stem cells.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells at P1 to P3 have been cultured on the silk scaffold.