Investigating the Safety and Regenerative Potential of MSC-Derived Secretome Combined With PRGF in Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, joint space narrowing, subchondral bone remodeling, inflammation, and pain that ultimately impair mobility and quality of life. Current treatment options, including analgesics, corticosteroids, and surgery, offer symptomatic relief but do not halt disease progression or restore joint tissue integrity.

Recent advancements in regenerative medicine have highlighted the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), particularly adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and umbilical cord- derived MSCs (UC-MSCs), due to their robust paracrine activity. Rather than relying solely on cell engraftment, MSCs exert their therapeutic effects primarily through their secretome. These are complex mixtures of cytokines, growth factors, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and exosomes. This secretome can promote cartilage repair, reduce inflammation, and modulate immune responses, all without the risks associated with live cell transplantation.

This prospective, interventional study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and early efficacy of intra-articular administration of MSC-derived secretome combined with Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III).The secretome will be collected from culture of human ADMSCs and UCMSCs grown in GMP-compliant labs, characterized for sterility, protein content, particle size, and bioactivity prior to administration.

Primary outcomes will include pain reduction assessment and any adverse events via Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and WOMAC index. If there will be adverse events, they will also be checked. Secondary outcomes will include functional improvement, cartilage regeneration (X-ray or MRI assessment), and changes in synovial inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-13).

This study hypothesizes that the cell-free combination of MSC secretome and PRGF will offer regenerative benefits in knee OA, potentially improving joint function and structure while minimizing the risks associated with live cell therapies. Findings from this trial will inform the design of future large-scale studies and support the development of secretome-based regenerative therapies for osteoarthritis.

Inclusion criteria

• Following is the inclusion criteria for the enrolment of patients affected with damaged cartilage in this study:

• Diagnosed with primary OA in one or both knees based on American College of Rheumatology criteria
• Grade I and II Arthritis
• Joint pain ≥ 20mm measured by visual analogue scale
• Age ranges from 30-55 years of age
• BMI 27.12 ± 4.38
• Patients with no previous surgical interventions to lower limb
• Willing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• • Secondary OA due to trauma, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, congenital disease or other inflammatory disorders of the knee

• Diagnosed with a systemic autoimmune disorder, immunodeficiency or coagulation disorder
• Had history of malignancy
• History of allergy or allergic constitution
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.