Cell-based therapies have disease-modifying effects on osteoarthritis in animal models. A systematic review by the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative. Part 1: adipose tissue-derived cell-based injectable therapies

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to determine if adipose tissue-derived cell-based injectable therapies can induce disease-modifying effects in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A systematic review was performed on three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) according to PRISMA guidelines. A synthesis of the results was performed investigating disease-modifying effects in preclinical studies comparing injectable adipose-derived products with OA controls or other products, different formulations or injection intervals, and the combination with other products. The risk of bias was assessed according to the SYRCLE’s tool. RESULTS: Seventy-one studies were included (2,086 animals) with an increasing publication trend over time. Expanded cells were used in 65 studies, 3 studies applied point of care products, and 3 studies investigated both approaches. Overall, 48 out of 51 studies (94%) reported better results with adipose-derived products compared to OA controls, with positive findings in 17 out of 20 studies (85%) in macroscopic, in 37 out of 40 studies (93%) in histological, and in 22 out of 23 studies (96%) in immunohistochemical evaluations. Clinical and biomarker evaluations showed positive results in 14 studies out of 18 (78%) and 12 studies out of 14 (86%), while only 9 studies out of 17 (53%) of the imaging evaluations were able to detect differences versus controls. The risk of bias was low in 38% of items, unclear in 51%, and high in (11%). CONCLUSION: The current preclinical models document consistent evidence of disease-modifying effects of adipose-derived cell-based therapies for the treatment of OA. The high heterogeneity of the published studies highlights the need for further targeted research to provide recommendations on the optimal methodologies for a more effective application of these injective therapies for the treatment of OA in clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00167-022-07063-7.