Exosome therapy

Exosomes are being heralded as the next frontier of cell therapy. While not being cells at all, they play a vital role in the communication and rejuvenation of all the cells in our body. Science has shown that the cell-to cell communication is important in maintaining a healthy cellular terrain.
Age, chronic disease, environmental factors and genetic disorders can interfere with how our stem cells communicate with other cells, thus disrupting the healing process. Exosomes play a key role in the regulation of these communication processes.

What Are Exosomes and How do they work?

Exosomes are so-called extracellular vesicles, or small bubbles, released from cells, especially from stem cells. They act as shuttles for certain genetic information, proteins and and messenger RNA to other cells. This usually happens in response to injuries. Generally speaking, exosomes carry healthy and lost information and insert this to target cells. They allow cell-to-cell communication, transporting molecules that are important regulators of intracellular information between close and distant cells. They carry information from place to place with different functions and purposes telling cells how and when to react.
Exosomes from stem cells contain valuable cell information consisting of proteins and genetic information the cell needs to function correctly. These stem cell-derived Exosomes have also shown to assist in transferring NK cells (Killer cells) into T-Regulator cells (Helper cells) By that they assist in calming an overreactive immune system and modulating it to respond in a coordinated fashion. They can also be used as a delivery system for medication.

What Is Exosome Therapy?

Research has given us valuable insight into the practical functionality of exosomes. By exposing the cells of an older organism to those of a younger organism we can see that exosomes from the young stem cells are responsible for rejuvenating the older cells. This healing mechanism can now be used in regenerative medicine. Exosomes are used to boost a previously done rejuvenation procedure (SEGO/VA).

A degenerative disease comes from a continuous deterioration of cells, affecting tissues or organs. While stem cells are usually responsible for the rejuvenation of the cells, external factors may hinder the stem cells in this function. They may not be able to supply all the information needed.
Supporting their function with external exosomes could have a greater positive effect, by providing new pieces of information to support the healing process.

Who is a candidate for exosome therapy?

Autologous stem cell exosome therapy has been applied in patients with:
• Diabetes
• Multiple unsuccessful IVF
• As a booster injection after ovarian rejuvenation
• Autoimmune diseases (SLE, Mixed connective tissue disorder, etc.)

In humans, Heterologous Exosome therapy has been applied in:
• Stroke patients
• Possibly brain injury in newborn infants, for example, following perinatal asphyxia
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
• Several studies have shown a direct positive effect of the MSC-EVs on angiogenesis.

References:

1.    https://www.infusio.org/treatments/exosome-therapy/
2.     Zheng GZ, Buller B, Chopp M, Exosomes – beyond stem cells for restorative therapy in stroke and neurological injury, Nature Reviews Neurology, 2019, vol 15, p 193–203
3.     https://www.dvcstem.com/post/exosomes
4.     Mianehsaz E, Mirzaei HR et al, Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: a new therapeutic approach to osteoarthritis?, Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2019, 10:340
5.     Yamashita T, Takahashi Y, Takakura Y, Possibility of Exosome-Based Therapeutics and Challenges in Production of Exosomes Eligible for Therapeutic Application, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2018, 41(6):835–842
6.      https://www.stemcelltraining.net/what-is-exosome-therapy/