Regenerative Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into diverse cell lineages. MSC based therapy has become a widely experimented treatment strategy in regenerative medicine with promising outcomes. Recent reports suggest that much of the therapeutic effects of MSCs are mediated by their secretome that is expressed through extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are lipid bilayer bound components that carry cellular proteins, mRNA, lncRNAs, and other molecules in order to mediate intercellular communication and signaling. In fact, MSC-derived EVs have been observed to implement the same therapeutic effects as MSCs with minimal adverse effects and could be used as an alternative treatment method to MSC-based therapy. The regenerative activity of MSC-EVs has been observed in relation to multiple cell/tissue lineages using various animal models. However, further research and clinical trials are essential for the advancement of this novel treatment strategy. This review provides an insight into the available literature on applications of MSC-EVs in relation to angiogenesis, neurogenesis, hepatic and kidney regeneration, and wound healing.