Progress in exosomes and their potential use in ocular diseases

Area of Science:

• Extracellular vesicles research
• Biomedical sciences
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Exosomes are biological nanoparticles containing proteins, RNA, and lipids.
• Different cell-derived exosomes exhibit distinct biological functions.
• Exosomes mediate various pathological processes, including nerve injury, regeneration, immune response, and fibrosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the research progress of exosomes in various diseases.
• To highlight the therapeutic potential of exosomes for eye diseases.
• To provide a new perspective on exosome-based treatments for ocular conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of in vivo studies on exosomes.
• Analysis of exosome involvement in pathological processes.
• Synthesis of current research on exosome applications in ophthalmology.

Main Results:

• Exosomes play significant roles in nerve injury and repair, vascular regeneration, immune response, and fibrosis.
• Exosomes are implicated in the pathogenesis and potential treatment of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and keratitis.
• In vivo studies demonstrate the functional impact of exosomes across diverse disease models.

Conclusions:

• Exosomes represent a promising therapeutic avenue for various eye diseases.
• Understanding exosome function in vivo is critical for developing novel ocular treatments.
• This review offers insights into exosome-based strategies for managing eye conditions.