What is cell therapy?

Cell therapy in osteoarthritis is a regenerative medicine approach that seeks to promote the repair and regeneration of damaged joint tissue. This type of therapy uses stem cells or progenitor cells with the aim of restoring the function and structure of joints affected by osteoarthritis.

There are several types of cell therapy being studied in the treatment of osteoarthritis, including:


Mesenchymal stem cell therapy:

Mesenchymal stem cells can be obtained from different sources, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue or umbilical cord. These cells have the ability to differentiate into various types of connective tissue cells, such as chondrocytes, which are the cells present in cartilage. When injected into joints affected by osteoarthritis, these cells are expected to help regenerate damaged cartilage and reduce inflammation in the joint.


Stem cell-rich plasma therapy:

In this modality of therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with stem cells obtained from the patient's own blood is used. The PRP is obtained from the patient's blood, and then processed to concentrate the platelets and growth factors. The combination of PRP and stem cells is injected into the affected joint to promote joint tissue regeneration.


Therapy with cultured autologous chondrocytes:

In this technique, a small sample of healthy cartilage tissue is removed from the patient. Chondrocytes (cartilage cells) are then cultured in the laboratory to obtain a sufficient quantity of cells. The cultured chondrocytes are then grafted into the damaged joint with the aim of regenerating the cartilage.

It is important to note that cell therapy in osteoarthritis is still in the research and development stage. Although some studies have shown promising results in terms of pain relief and improved joint function, the scientific evidence is limited and more research is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness, safety and best practices for the application of these therapies.