Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Modified Precipitation Method to Isolate Urinary Exosomes
Published on: January 16, 2015
Exosomes in kidney disease: From Pathophysiology to Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tools
Juan He1, Jianan Feng1, Jin Zhao1
1Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 127 Changle West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background:
Kidney disease is a significant global public health and economic burden, with unmet clinical requirements for early diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapies. Exosomes, nanoscale lipid bilayer vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication through bioactive cargo, have emerged as a promising translational tool for addressing these gaps.
Objective:
This review summarizes the classification, biological functions, technical workflows (isolation, characterization, and storage), and physiological/pathological roles of exosomes in kidney disease. It also emphasizes clinically actionable advances in exosome-based diagnosis and therapy and identifies translational barriers.
Methods:
This narrative review was conducted through a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to April 2026.
Key Findings:
Exosomes regulate renal pathological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. Urinary/blood exosomal molecules are potential non-invasive biomarkers for acute/chronic kidney disease. Cell-derived exosomes demonstrate preclinical therapeutic efficacy for renal repairs. However, technical standardization and large-scale clinical validation remain significant challenges.
Conclusion:
Exosomes have a high translational potential for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. Addressing standardization, validation, and regulatory challenges is crucial for clinical adoption, and this review provides a roadmap for bridging preclinical findings to clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Exosomes
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
