Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease refers to any pathological condition in which there is a progressive decline in neuronal function resulting from brain atrophy. Despite the immense efforts invested over recent decades in developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, effective therapy for these conditions is still an unmet need. One of the promising options for promoting brain recovery and regeneration is mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation. The therapeutic effect of MSCs is thought to be mediated by their secretome, and specifically, by their exosomes. Research shows that MSC-derived exosomes retain some of the characteristics of their parent MSCs, such as immune system modulation, regulation of neurite outgrowth, promotion of angiogenesis, and the ability to repair damaged tissue. Here, we summarize the functional outcomes observed in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases following MSC-derived exosome treatment. We will examine the proposed mechanisms of action through which MSC-derived exosomes mediate their therapeutic effects and review advanced studies that attempt to enhance the improvement achieved using MSC-derived exosome treatment, with a view towards future clinical use.
Highlights
Mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are self-renewing populations of adult multipotent progenitor cells with the potential to differentiate into several mesodermal cell lineages including bone, cartilage, and adipose tissue [1]
There are three important issues that are prevalent in good manufacturing practice (GMP) for exosomes: upstream of cell cultivation process, downstream of the purification process, and exosome quality control [85]
MSC-derived exosomes can target and accumulate in brain lesion sites in various murine models of diseases, where they improve the behavioral phenotype as well as reducing the inflammatory response. This improvement is not inferior to that obtained following the transplantation of the parent cells and has the advantage of avoiding adverse events associated with whole cell transplants
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are self-renewing populations of adult multipotent progenitor cells with the potential to differentiate into several mesodermal cell lineages including bone, cartilage, and adipose tissue [1]. This feature underlies attempts to use MSCs as a therapeutic tool. MSC transplantation in neurodegenerative disease models has led to improvement in various parameters, including improved survival, decreased pathology, and rescue of deteriorated cognition [4,5,6]. We will discuss the limitations of treatment with exosomes and the possibility of improving treatment efficiency in order to transition to clinical trials
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