Exosomes against autoimmune diseases

Scientists have reversed the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in mice

Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+

Therapy with "live" nanoparticles has proven itself well in experiments on rodents. Now US scientists are preparing to conduct clinical trials on humans.

So far, stem cell therapy for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases has produced mixed results in clinical trials, partly because scientists don't know how it works. A study by specialists from the University of California at Irvine has solved this mystery, according to a press release Nanotechnology treatment shows promise against multiple sclerosis.

In past experiments, stem cells taken from bone marrow and activated by gamma interferon were injected intravenously and often got into filtration organs without reaching the target. To avoid this, scientists extracted exosomes from such stem cells and injected them into rodents with multiple sclerosis.

Exosomes loaded with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective RNA and protein molecules were able to seep through the hemato-encephalic barrier.

Figure from the article by Riazifar et al. Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as Nanotherapeutics for Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Disorders, published in the journal ACS Nano – VM.

In addition to restoring motor skills and nerves damaged by multiple sclerosis, exosomes normalized the immune system of mice. No traditional drug could do this.

The new therapy will be tested on humans in early 2020 – first on patients with type 1 diabetes. If successful, it will allow the treatment of other autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis.  

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