Introduction:

A major key in reversing the effects of aging could very likely be in tiny extracellular vesicles called exosomes. While once thought to be useless cell debris, exosomes have been proven to play a major role in intercellular communication as they deliver signals to recipient cells that change their biological activity (Panagiotou et al., 2018). Exosomes contain mRNAs, miRNAs, proteins, small DNAs, and lipids that reflect their cell of origin, and they release their contents in recipient cells by fusing with the cell’s plasma membrane.

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate and recreate functional tissue, and their exosomes retain some genetic material in the form of restorative signals to other cells (Chen et al., 2017). However, the concentration of these exosomes decreases with age, and therefore, their beneficial effects decrease as well (D’Anca et al., 2019). Researchers have injected exosomes produced by pluripotent embryonic stem cells or multipotent mesenchymal stem cells into rats and humans in the attempt to reverse certain aspects of aging; currently, there are promising explorations into the effects of exosomes in restoring some important functions of cells that are lost with time, combating autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and reversing some cosmetic effects of aging. Exosome therapies are already commercially available, albeit not FDA approved, and the companies generally claim success.