Therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes in neurodegenerative diseases: A focus on non-coding RNAs cargo, drug delivery potential, perspective

Despite the massive efforts advanced over recent years in emerging therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, effective treatment for these diseases is still an urgent need. The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes (MSCs-Exo) as a novel therapy for neurodegenerative diseases holds great promise. A growing body of data now suggests that an innovative cell-free therapy, MSCs-Exo, may establish a fascinating alternative therapy due to their unique advantages over MSCs. Notable, MSCs-Exo can infiltrate the blood-brain barrier and then well distribute non-coding RNAs into injured tissues. Research shows that non-coding RNAs of MSCs-Exo are vital effectors that participate in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through neurogeneration and neurite outgrowth, modulation of the immune system, reducing neuroinflammation, repairmen of damaged tissue, and promotion of neuroangiogenesis. In addition, MSCs-Exo can serve as a drug delivery system for delivering non-coding RNAs to neurons in neurodegenerative conditions. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the therapeutic role of non-coding RNAs of MSCs-Exo for various neurodegenerative diseases. This study also discusses the potential drug delivery role of MSCs-Exo and challenges and opportunities in the clinical translation of MSCs-Exo-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Automated summary

Despite advances in emerging therapies, effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases remains urgent. MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exo) hold promise as a novel therapy for neurodegenerative diseases due to their ability to infiltrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver non-coding RNAs to injured tissues. Non-coding RNAs of MSCs-Exo play a vital role in neurodegenerative disease treatment through neurogeneration, immune modulation, neuroinflammation reduction, tissue repair, and neuroangiogenesis promotion. This review summarizes the therapeutic role of non-coding RNAs of MSCs-Exo and discusses their potential as a drug delivery system and the challenges and opportunities for clinical translation in the future.