Exosome genomics in inflammatory bowel disease: mechanisms and diagnostic potential

Exosomes, as crucial mediators of intercellular communication, shuttle a variety of biomolecules including lipids, proteins, and RNAs. In recent years, research has focused on their diagnostic and therapeutic potential, attributed to the cell-of-origin specificity of their components and their stability in bodily fluids. However, clinical translation of exosome-based applications remains challenged by the high heterogeneity of exosomes and the complexity of isolation and characterization techniques. The global incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise, with its pathogenesis involving multiple factors such as genetics, immune dysregulation, and intestinal dysbiosis. Exosome-related studies have furnished multidimensional tools to address the research challenges in IBD; particularly, the integration of multi-omics technologies and engineering strategies has facilitated the translation of IBD research from the basic to the clinical setting. This review summarizes the basic background of exosomes and exosomics technologies, elaborates on the regulatory roles of exosomes and the functional implications of exosomics, and focuses on the applications of exosomes in IBD.