Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as Treatment for Stroke: a Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Stem cell therapy's benefits may stem from paracrine factors in exosomes.
• Exosomes are released from intracellular endosomes and carry therapeutic molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effects of stem cell-derived exosomes in animal models of stroke.
• To identify the restorative potential of exosomes for stroke treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases until April 2020.
• Inclusion of 16 datasets from 994 identified articles.
• Quality assessment using the STAIR scale.

Main Results:

• Eight studies reported improved functional recovery in stroke models.
• Eight studies demonstrated reduced infarct volume following exosome therapy.
• Beneficial effects linked to reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and enhanced neurogenesis/angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Stem cell-derived exosomes promote neurological recovery and reduce infarct volume in preclinical stroke models.
• Improving preclinical study quality is crucial for advancing exosome therapy to human clinical trials.
• Exosomes show promise as an endogenous nano-system for drug delivery in stroke treatment.