Bloodstock desk: ` When it comes to stem cells, we have the best facilities in the world' Rachel Pagones talks to Professor Twink Allen of the Equine Fertility Unit, and hears why a lack of funding could rob Britain of an important success in equine science.

Byline: Rachel Pagones

PROFESSOR Twink Allen, director of the Equine Fertility Unit in Newmarket, believes his lab is on the brink of a major breakthrough, and he is thrilled to be there.

But he also has a big headache - one that can be alleviated only by sufficient funding to guarantee that the EFU will remain open beyond September, when the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's agreement to provide the centre's financial core, worth pounds 150,000 per year, runs out.

The breakthrough involves developing a self-replicating line of stem cells derived from an equine embryo that are so pure that they can be implanted into any horse, where they can then be transformed into any type of cell. The lab has already cultivated three lines with this potential, but must do further research to find out whether the cells can be transformed into any type of cell and whether they will be rejected by the recipient.

The dilemma is that, while Allen says the EFU has a ``big lead'' on rival research groups, it can be continued only with guaranteed future funding. Most crucially, the lab needs a world-class cell biologist, and although Allen has found what he believes is the perfect candidate, he can lure him to Newmarket only if he can offer him a job that has a future beyond September.

That was not an issue until November, when the EFU found out it had a serious funding problem. Supported since 1993 by the TBA, it was due to come under the BHB's umbrella in January.

BUTthe promised funding was suddenly yanked from beneath Allen's feet when the European Court of Justice ruled against the BHB in a case involving payments for data by bookmakers. While the case remains under appeal, the BHB was compelled to slash its budget by pounds 8.7 million, including the pounds 250,000-pounds 300,000 per year that it had set aside for the EFU, which operates on a mere pounds 500,000 annually.

``The BHB have been very, very good, and it is just force of circumstances in this silly legal case that's put the kibosh on the project,'' says Allen.

``That's the big headache now - that we're set to go and we've got this topic which is of great interest to the BHB because these stem cell treatments are designed to help racehorses. The BHB was taking us on, and then suddenly it can't.

``I really am thrilled at the thought of becoming attached to the BHB. They're interested, they're genuine and they're welcoming, and we want to respond and do good things for them.''

Stem cells are one of the hottest research topics in science today, offering the tantalising potential to treat disabilities ranging from spinal-cord injury and burns to severe neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

However, neurological disease is not much of a concern for young thoroughbreds. The potential to change their lives for the better lies in two areas: regeneration of cartilage cells in horses with joint problems, and healing of tendon injuries.

Both types of injury can delay and often end the careers of racehorses, but both are very likely candidates for successful treatment with embryonic stem cells.

There are two main types of stem cells - embryonic and adult. While research by a veterinary group in London using adult stem cells to treat tendon injuries has had promising results, its use is also limited, says Allen. That is because adult stem cells will be rejected by any body other than the one from which they were taken - so to treat a horse's tendon with them, you must first take stem cells from the bone marrow of its own sternum, then grow those cells in a lab over a period of four to six weeks before injecting them back into the damaged tendon.

``That's been very successful, but it's very limited,'' says Allen. ``Our embryonic stem cells should go into any horse, provided they don't express excessively MHC antigens.''

An antigen is a substance that causes a living being to produce antibodies. MHC, or major histocompatibility complex antigens, are inherited antigens that make one body reject a graft or transplant from another.

All types of cells express these antigens, some more so than others. Fortunately, cartilage cells and tendon cells are among the `less so' type, but part of Allen's challenge is to develop a line of cells that will not be rejected by any horse.STEMcell treatment would be far superior to traditional treatment, which involves firing for tendons and drugs for joint injuries, as well as rest.

``In strained tendons, you get this big hole in the middle of the tendon, tearing at the fibres, bleeding into that hole, and that takes weeks and months to heal,'' explains Allen. ``And healing tends to be by scar tissue, which is higgledy-piggledy and not the best quality healing.

With these cells you get better organised healing and quicker healing.''

Joint injuries occur because of erosions of articulate cartilage, similar to arthritis. ``Lots of people use lots of drugs injected into joints to try to suppress the inflammatory response,'' says Allen. ``If you've got an inflammatory response, it's much better to induce healing of the harmed bit, which is the eroded bit of the cartilage, and these cells would do that.''

The EFU has three lines of embryonic stem cells derived from three different embryos. These cells have been `immortalised', meaning they are able to replicate in a pure form indefinitely.

``The embryonic stem cells are an order of magnitude of a leap forward compared to adult stem cells,'' says Allen.

``Theoretically at least, they can turn into anything you want them to turn into.''

However, he is unable to proceed without the expertise of the Chinese scientist he has lined up, pending financial support. ``All of embryology throughout the world is now colonised by the Chinese,'' explains Allen. ``They seem particularly good at it and particularly adept.''

Time is of the essence, for while the EFU is the onlyteam in Europe to have embryonic equine stem cell lines, Allen fears that one of his rivals will patent the technology while his cells are in a deep freeze. Chief among them is a Japanese team, well supported by the Japan Racing Association.

``The JRA lab is huge, with more fancy expensive equipment in it than you could ever dream,'' Allen bemoans. ``And they're technologically minded and they can do it well. So they're the serious ones.

``But we have wonderful facilities, we are on the edge of Newmarket and have the best quality lands. We have the collaboration of two enormous highly specialised and hard-working veterinary practices, we have 30-odd stud farms and a number of racing stables, right on the doorstep.

``What a shame it would be to let it wither on the vine.

Because we have the best research establishment in the world.

``And when it comes to something like stem cells, we have undoubtedly the best facilities in the world to do the necessary work.''

I PROMINENT international owner Gary Tanaka has appointed Lincoln Collins as his bloodstock manager. Collins, who is based in Lexington, Kentucky, where he owns and operates Kern Thoroughbreds, will assist Tanaka in all aspects of his thoroughbred business, including sales and acquisitions, breeding plans and racing management.

Tanaka has owned such geographically diverse stars as Epalo, Gourmet Girl, Keltos, User Friendly and Rakti.

He has bought horses through Collins and his European associate Lillingston Bloodstock for several years. Among their recent notable purchases is 2002 US female turf champion Golden Apples.

I MIDNIGHT ANGEL, second in the 2002 German Oaks, produced her first foal, a bay colt by Fasliyev, at Newsells Park Stud last Friday. The foal was the first of more than 80 expected at the Royston nursery this season.

Six-year-old Midnight Angel, a German-bred daughter of Acatenango, will visit Hernando next.

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Professor Twink Allen: worried by possible funding loss