Are Exosomes a Cure for Aging and Cancer?

Updated on March 8, 2022

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicles found in the bloodstream and other bio-fluids that have piqued researchers’ interest in recent years. Exosomes operate as essential signaling molecules, and represent a new paradigm in illness diagnosis and treatment. Clinical trials are presently being conducted on many exosome-based biological applications.

What Are Exosomes?

Exosomes are types of heterogeneous extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced from various cells and have a diameter of 40 to 150 nm. Exosome production was once thought to be a way for cells to get rid of waste. However, exosomes have been discovered to play a crucial role in both pathological and physiological processes, including: 

  • Cell migration and invasion
  • Immunological response 
  • Aging
  • Chemoresistance 

Endocytosis occurs when parts of the cell’s membrane bud off from the interior side of the membrane, resulting in exosome formation. Inside the cell, these sections combine to create endosomes compartments. 

Exosomes play an essential role in communication between protein-protein, gene-gene, and gene–microRNA networks and intracellular and remote cellular connection channels, giving them unexplored application potential.

Exosomes in Aging 

Even if no specific diseases are present, there is a general change in exosome production as we age. The amount of disease-promoting exosomes increases while the amount of recovering exosomes decreases, as the balance of exosomes found in the body gradually shifts. 

Researchers studied the variations in exosome levels in individual persons across aging for the first time in 2017. The researchers analyzed exosome levels in two blood samples collected five years apart in 75 healthy people aged 30 to 64. The researchers discovered that as people become older, circulating exosomes decrease. However, according to the researchers, the quantity of EVs in circulation within the body does not change with age.

Exosomes can be excellent biomarkers of health in aging adults. Exosome levels in the blood could develop into a practical approach to receive a quick and painless check on a patient’s health. There is an increasing amount of evidence that exosome infusions from restoring cells like stem cells can prevent several age-related disorders by returning circulating exosome levels to a more young state.

Exosome cargo, which includes RNA, proteins, and lipids, stimulates self-repair pathways in recipient tissues. Exosome infusions have been shown to halt the aging process in rats, prolonging their longevity and healthspan.

There has been a considerable buzz in the last decade about the therapeutic benefit of stem cells, which are regenerative cells that can replace damaged cells. Exosome treatments are currently being tested in humans.

Exosomes in Cancer Treatment

Exosomes generated by abnormal cells have been linked to the genesis and cell transmission of illnesses such as cancer, owing to their role as conduits for the cells that produce them. Exosome content is tightly controlled by their parent cells in both healthy and pathological settings since they send information to receiving cells and allow them to acquire specialized activities. 

Exosomes generally support cancer progression while also targeting tumor cells with anticancer medications. As a result, exosomes are increasingly being used to diagnose and treat cancer. 

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.