Evaluation of Regenerative Medicine Outcomes With Umbilical Allograft for Musculoskeletal Conditions

Medical providers are often faced with patients whose source of pain may be the result of an inflammatory response caused by trauma or disease. By managing the patient's inflammation, the clinician may see improved response to traditional pain management therapy and existing protocols.

Also, degenerative arthritis of spinal and extremity joints may lead to significant low back, knee, hip, shoulder pain etc, as the ratio of cartilage degradation to cartilage formation increases with age. An amniotic tissue derived product may prove to be an ideal non-steroidal and potentially regenerative therapy for use by the medical provider due to its unique characteristics.

The orthopedic application of amniotic fluid dates back to at least the 1930's. The placental membranes produce an array of immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory molecules, which make these tissues suitable for use as a wound covering [or as an anti-inflammatory] in a clinical setting. In addition to structural properties, placental membrane and amniotic fluid (AF) is a rich source of growth factors, including organic compounds and nutrients, hyaluronic acids, amino acids, antioxidants and stem cells.

AF's anti-inflammatory actions may be mediated in part by its secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10, inhibin, activin, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist as well as anti-inflammatory protease inhibitors such as ∞-1 anti-trypsin inhibitor and inter-a-trypsin inhibitor. AF may modulate acquired immunity by suppressing alloreactive responses and down regulating production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines.

In addition to having known anti-inflammatory qualities, placental membrane cells, derived from the layer of trophoblast cells covering the developing embryo, do not express MHC Class II antigens, which are responsible for the rapid rejection of allografts in humans. Because AF is immune privileged, it is an ideal allograft with no known graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).