Exosomes aid tissue repair but may also drive tumour growth
Tiny vesicles that cells release as a form of communication are increasingly being explored as therapies. But they have a second face that researchers are now systematically mapping.
Cells constantly communicate by releasing small vesicles into their surroundings. One class of these vesicles are exosomes: nano-sized structures (30-150 nm) with a double-layer lipid membrane that carry proteins, lipids, and genetic material. They have been studied for decades, first as diagnostic tools and now also as potential therapies.
Exosomes as a replacement for stem cells
Stem cell therapies work largely through the signals that transplanted cells produce. A significant portion of those signals are carried in exosomes. The researchers describe in their review how exosomes derived from stem cells are in principle easier to store and use than living cells. They activate signalling pathways involved in tissue repair and can cross the blood-brain barrier, making them attractive for neurological applications.
The risk of context
But the same properties that promote repair can also cause harm. The researchers describe how exosomes can stimulate tumour growth, promote drug resistance, and suppress the immune response to infection. This depends strongly on context: which cell releases the exosome, what it contains, and in which tissue it arrives.
The authors call for more research into the conditions under which exosomes can be used safely and effectively. They argue that the dual nature of exosomes represents a fundamental challenge for therapeutic use, and that classifying exosomes by size alone is insufficient to predict their function.
The findings were published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. This is a review of existing research, not a new clinical study.
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