Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells-derived exosomes: possible therapeutic mechanism in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract caused by dysfunction of the immune system in genetically susceptible individuals. As current pharmacologic and surgical treatments remain suboptimal, increasing attention has been directed toward exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) as alternative therapeutic approaches. MSCs are multipotent stromal cells that can be isolated from various human tissues such as bone marrow, adipose, umbilical cord and periodontal ligament. Exosomes are cell-derived membrane-bound vesicles enclosing RNAs, proteins, growth factors, and cytokines. Previous studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects of MSCs are largely mediated by MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos). Therefore, this review outlines current insights into the molecular mechanisms of MSC-Exos in IBD treatment to support the future development of MSC-Exos as a therapeutic strategy, thus providing novel observations into the clinical applications of MSC-Exos in IBD management.