Abstract
Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles essential for cell–cell communication in health and disease with the ability to transport nucleic acids, functional proteins and other metabolites. Their clinical use as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers has become a major field of research over recent years, generating rapidly expanding scientific interest and financial investment. Their reduced immunogenicity compared to liposomes or viral vectors and their ability to cross major physiological barriers like the blood–brain barrier make them an appealing and innovative option as biomarkers and therapeutic agents. Here, we review the latest clinical developments of exosome biotechnology for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including the most recent COVID‐19‐related exosome‐based clinical trials. We present current exosome engineering strategies for optimal clinical safety and efficacy, and assess the technology developed for good manufacturing practice compliant scaling up and storage approaches along with their limitations in pharmaceutical industry.
Highlights
Developing clinical applications using exosome technology has become a major field of research over the last years
Exosomes are released by all cells and their markers include tetraspanin family proteins (CD9, CD63 and CD81), heat shock proteins (Hsp), actin and flotillins, endosomal sorting complex required for transport proteins (Alix and TSG101) and integrins (Zhang et al, 2019)
The results presented that miR-375 derived from whole plasma could differentiate pancreatic cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, while exosomal miR-200c-3p and miR-21-5p were better discriminators and Let-7a-5p miRNA in exosomes could distinguish pancreatic cancer patients with different severity scores (Endzelinš et al, 2017). miRNA-375 levels in exosomes from squamous cells of carcinoma patients determine the progression from local inflammation to carcinoma and are potential early-stage biomarkers for oral carcinoma (Shi et al, 2015)
Summary
Dany Perocheau1 | Loukia Touramanidou1 | Sonam Gurung1 | Paul Gissen1,2 | Julien Baruteau. Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles essential for cell–cell communication in health and disease with the ability to transport nucleic acids, functional proteins and other metabolites. Their clinical use as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers has become a major field of research over recent years, generating rapidly expanding scientific interest and financial investment. Their reduced immunogenicity compared to liposomes or viral vectors and their ability to cross major physiological barriers like the blood–brain barrier make them an appealing and innovative option as biomarkers and therapeutic agents.
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