Title:Exosomes as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy for Peripheral Nerve Injury
Volume: 19
Issue: 12
Author(s): Tianhao Yu, Yingxi Xu, Muhammad Arslan Ahmad , Rabia Javed , Haruo Hagiwara*Xiaohong Tian*
Affiliation:
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo,Japan
- Department of Tissue Engineering, China Medical University, Shenyang,China
Keywords:
Exosome, nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, Schwann cell, axonal regrowth, inflammation, vascular
regeneration.
Abstract: Peripheral nerve injury has a high incidence and often leads to severe losses of sensory
and motor functions in the afflicted limb. Autologous nerve grafts are widely accepted as the gold
standard for peripheral nerve repair, but the presence of inherent drawbacks dramatically reduces
their usability. Numerous tissue engineering nerve grafts are developed as alternatives to autologous
nerve grafts, and a variety of cells and neurotrophic factors are introduced into these grafts for improvement.
However, they are still difficult to obtain satisfactory clinical results. Peripheral nerve
regeneration following injury remains a significant challenge for researchers and clinicians. Exosomes
are extracellular membranous nanovesicles that are secreted by most cells. As the key players
of intercellular communication, exosomes play a fundamental role in the physiological and
pathological processes of the nervous system. Accumulating evidence has suggested that exosomes
can exert neurotherapeutic effects via mediating axonal regrowth, Schwann cell activation, vascular
regeneration, and inflammatory regulation. Exosomes are emerging as a promising approach for
treating peripheral nerve injury. Furthermore, they also provide possibilities for enhancing the repairing
capacity of various nerve grafts. This review primarily highlights the regenerative effects of
exosomes on peripheral nerve injury. The exosomes from distinct sources reported so far in the
literature are summarized to understand their roles in the process of nerve repair. Moreover, the
challenges that must be addressed in their clinical transformation are outlined as well. This review
also provides further insight into the potential application of exosomes for peripheral nerve repair.
