EXOSOMES AND MESENCHYMAL CELLS
What are Exosomes?
Exosomes are small vesicles released by cells. They are responsible for communication between cells where they basically act as messengers with valuable protein signals and genetic information (DNA and RNA) between cells.
Exosomes can travel throughout the body, delivering messages telling cells how to behave, what is happening nearby, or what they should produce. These messengers are produced naturally by the cells in our body, with stem cells being the main producers.
What is Exosome Treatment?
Exosomes, being produced primarily by stem cells, have been devised as a tissue regenerative treatment. This was discovered by research where it was observed that the repairing effect of stem cells can be replicated using only exosomes. This opens the way to a cell-free regenerative treatment.
The approach is simple. By applying exosomes directly to a wound or damaged tissue, communication between affected cells will be improved. The exosomes will send out proteins that will help the cells regulate themselves and repair the tissue.
What is Exosome Therapy for?
-Exosome therapy, being able to regenerate tissue, is mainly used to treat wounds and reduce body deterioration.
In the case of wounds, it has been shown to produce two effects when applied to patients:
-Notable reduction in inflammation and pain: This is the first possible one. This is because exosomes are rich in immunomodulatory proteins that facilitate and regulate our body's immune responses (specifically T cells and NK cells), helping to reduce pain and swelling in the area.
-Tissue repair and remodeling: The second potential effect is that exosomes communicate to cells how to self-regulate and repair tissue. This leads to regeneration and long-term relief.
How is this treatment applied?
One of the main routes of application is through intravenous and direct injections into the wound or area to be treated. The content of exosomes administered in this way has high concentrations of exosomes, together with lower concentrations of other celogenic components such as cytokines and chemokines.
The procedure does not require any detailed preparation and can be performed in one consultation.
The injection can be performed with a fine needle, so it does not cause any pain and does not require a long recovery time after its application.
Who can use Exosome Therapy?
This cell-free regenerative treatment may be beneficial for people with a wide variety of ailments. The scope of this treatment is still being explored, however, it has been found to be particularly beneficial in cases of chronic inflammation, immune system disorders, degenerative diseases, and Lyme disease .
The deterioration that the body may suffer as a result of genetic or environmental factors or those caused by chronic diseases can be calmed by receiving mixtures rich in exosomes that facilitate the reduction of inflammation and tissue repair.
SUMMARY OF THE USE OF EXOSOME THERAPY
HAIR THERAPY
The use of Exosomes as a treatment for hair loss has shown prominent results in hair growth in both men and women. It is highly recommended for those who are too young for hair transplant surgery and those who are in the early stages of the hair loss cycle.
BEAUTY/SKIN CARE
Exosomes and their components can help restore both the youthful contour and shape of the face, as well as provide a noticeable improvement in skin quality, tightness and color irregularities caused by the aging process and exposure to the sun and the environment.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
By relieving pain and discomfort, these procedures can potentially stimulate repair rather than blocking or masking pain and discomfort.
Common conditions treated with Exosomes:
-Osteoarthritis
-Knee pain
-Shoulder
-Nerve Pain
-Tendinitis, Osteopathies
-Slow, non-healing wounds/burns
ANTI-AGING EFFECT
By exposing cells from an older organism to those from a younger organism, we can see that the exosomes from the young stem cells are responsible for rejuvenating the older cells. This healing mechanism can now be used in regenerative medicine.
ADJUVANT THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE DISEASES
A degenerative disease occurs due to a continuous deterioration of cells, affecting tissues or organs. Exosomes can enhance or inhibit the immune response depending on the cell they originate from and its functional status. Stem cell-derived exosomes have been reported to alter dendritic cell maturation and regulate B cell activation, differentiation, and proliferation. They have been shown to control natural killer cell activity and suppress the innate immune response (IIR) .