Cell and Gene Therapy in Equine Ocular Disease.

Cell and gene therapy show promise for equine ocular disease but lack rigorous controlled studies.

This review examines the emerging applications of cell and gene therapy in treating equine ocular diseases, addressing limitations of conventional therapeutic approaches. The authors highlight that immune-mediated conditions (immune-mediated keratitis, equine recurrent uveitis), ulcerative keratitis, and infectious ocular diseases represent particularly promising targets for these innovative treatments. Cell therapy primarily utilizes multipotent stromal cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), mirroring human medical applications. Several ocular gene therapy products have achieved regulatory approval in human medicine, with additional candidates under veterinary investigation. The review synthesizes principles underlying these therapeutic modalities and incorporates insights from human ophthalmology to contextualize equine applications. Despite increasing clinical adoption and numerous in vitro investigations and case series, significant gaps in evidence persist. The authors underscore the critical need for controlled in vivo studies to establish safety profiles, optimal routes of administration, and efficacy parameters. This review serves as a comprehensive resource for veterinary practitioners seeking to understand the current landscape and future potential of cellular and genetic therapeutic approaches in equine ophthalmology.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.