Evaluation of the Tolerability and Efficacy of Adjuvant Treatment with Adipose Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Dogs with Kidney Disease Secondary to Leishmaniosis

The safety and efficacy of adjuvant treatment with allogeneic adipose mesenchymal stem cells (aAMSCs) were evaluated in dogs with renal disease secondary to Canine Leishmaniosis (CanL). A total of twenty client-owned dogs were divided in two groups, a conventional treatment group (CT; n=10 dogs) and another receiving an adjuvant intravenous dose of aAMSCs (CT+aAMSCs; n=10 dogs). Prospective, non-blinded, single center, 3-day study. Efficacy was assessed at 0, 30, and 90 days using plasma and urinary biomarkers (neutrophil gelatinase-associated protein, uNGAL/c; Tamm-Horsfall protein, uTHP/c). In a subgroup, glomerular filtration rate estimation via scintigraphy (99mTc-DTPA) and urinary proteomics (UHPLC coupled to MS/MS) were performed. Infusion monitoring, pretesting, and imaging tests evaluated short-term safety. No major adverse effects were observed with aAMSCs (n = 2; nausea and vomiting). There were no statistically significant differences in any parameter evaluated between groups, but uNGAL/c and uTHP/c showed a marked decrease. Intragroup analysis observed statistical differences in CT+aAMSC group among 0 and 90 days for uNGAL/c and UPCR. In the urinary proteome, only 4 proteins showed significant differences, specifically two polymorphisms of Osteopontin, the WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 (F1PDT8), and the Cationic trypsin-like protein. However, although UMAP did not demonstrate a clear separation between groups. In conclusion, intravenous aAMSCs therapy was safe in dogs with CanL renal disease. Although a single intravenous dose reduces tubular damage, it does not demonstrate functional benefit as an adjuvant treatment. This valuable information will help direct future resources to study multiple-dose intravenous protocols to fully evaluate efficacy.