Therapeutic application of extracellular vesicles for various kidney diseases: a brief review

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from kidney cells are crucial for homeostasis, immune response, and intercellular communication.
• Dysfunctional EVs can exacerbate kidney diseases through inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor promotion.
• EVs, particularly exosomes, are implicated in renal disease progression, suggesting therapeutic inhibition.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes recent clinical and experimental findings on the therapeutic applications of EVs in renal diseases.
• It explores the potential of inhibiting EV production, release, or uptake as a therapeutic strategy.
• The review also examines the regenerative capabilities of stem cell-derived EVs in kidney tissue repair.

Key Points:

• Stem cell-derived EVs can mitigate kidney injury by reducing apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.
• These EVs also promote beneficial processes like angiogenesis and tubular cell regeneration.
• Biomedical engineering advances enable modulation of EV composition for targeted therapeutic functions.
• EVs are emerging as versatile drug delivery platforms for various diseases.

Conclusions:

• EVs present a promising therapeutic avenue for managing and treating diverse renal diseases.
• The clinical applicability of EVs in nephrology is expanding, with ongoing research into their therapeutic potential.
• Targeting EVs offers a novel strategy for kidney disease management, leveraging both inhibitory and regenerative approaches.