What are exosomes?
Exosomes are not living stem cells. They are one subgroup of extracellular vesicles, and preparations sold or studied under the term “exosomes” may differ substantially in identity, contents and quality.
What mechanisms are under investigation?
Preclinical studies explore signal transfer, immune-cell interactions, inflammation-related pathways, responses after tissue injury and nerve-related cellular signaling.
- Intercellular signaling and cargo transfer
- Inflammatory and immune pathways
- Preclinical tissue-response and nerve-related research
Conditions being researched
Scientific investigations include osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal pain, neuropathy, inflammatory disorders, wound healing and neurological diseases. There is not adequate evidence to establish exosome administration as safe or effective for these uses.
FDA status and important risks
No exosome products are FDA-approved for treating any medical condition. Products administered to treat disease generally require appropriate FDA authorization. Potential risks include contamination, infection, immune reactions and unknown long-term effects.