Exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells: Potential applications in wound healing
Sicheng Li, Yichuan Li, Kèyù Zhü, W. He, Xingjun Guo, Ting Wang, Song Gong, Zhanyong Zhu
Abstract
Wound healing is a continuous and complex process regulated by multiple factors, which has become an intractable clinical burden. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-exos) possess low immunogenicity, easy preservation, and potent bioactivity, which is a mirror to their parental cells MSC-exos are important tools for regulating the biological behaviors of wound healing-associated cells, including fibroblasts, keratinocytes, immune cells, and endothelial cells. MSC-exos accelerate the wound healing process at cellular and animal levels by modulating inflammatory responses, promoting collagen deposition and vascularization. MSC-exos accelerate wound healing at the cellular and animal levels by modulating inflammatory responses and promoting collagen deposition and vascularization. This review summarizes the roles and mechanisms of MSC-exos originating from various sources in promoting the healing efficacy of general wounds, diabetic wounds, burn wounds, and healing-related scars. It also discusses the limitations and perspectives of MSC-exos in wound healing, in terms of exosome acquisition, mechanistic complexity, and exosome potentiation modalities. A deeper understanding of the properties and functions of MSC-exos is beneficial to advance the therapeutic approaches for achieving optimal wound healing. • Skin wounds are a continuous and complex clinical burden. • The wound healing process is modulated by multiple cells and cytokines. • Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes accelerate the wound healing process. • Exosomes from different sources differ in their reparative function in wound healing.