Edited by Ming-Jer Tang and Lu-Hai Wang
A thematic series in Journal of Biomedical Science.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid membrane-bound vesicles secreted by all cells with size ranging from 30 nm to a few mm. Exosomes (30-150 nm) are smallest EVs, carrying nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites. EVs and exosomes play important roles in cell-cell communication via paracrine, autocrine and endocrine pathways. J Biomedical Science launched a theme series of 4 articles, including three reviews (1, 2, 3) and one research papers (4), to discuss the biological and pathobiological functions and clinical application of EVs, and to explore the therapeutic potential of modified EVs. Chen et al (1) review the clinical applications of exosomes in cancer biology. Moreover, they discuss exosome‐mediated targeted drug delivery systems for the purpose of cancer therapeutics. EV can be engineered for therapeutic use in regenerative medicine or even as vaccine for preventive medicine. Engineering EVs may be achieved by post‐secretion modification or direct genetic engineering of the secreting cells. Since currently available lipid nanoparticle (LNP)‐mRNA vaccines for COVID 19 have displayed certain limitation, Zhang et al (2) propose that engineered EVs displaying pathogen proteins may be promising alternatives to LNP‐mRNA vaccines. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used in clinical medicine, particular in treatment of osteoarthritis, but with certain limitations. Platelet releasd EV (p-EV) may explain the therapeutic effects of PRP. Burnouf et al (3) have up-dated the translational application of p-EVs in biotherapy and highlighted the advantage and limitations as a clinical modality in regenerative medicine. Because microRNA let-7a-5p possesses anti-inflammatory properties, Chen et al (4) employed the cell nanoparticle (CNP) platform to generate let-7a-5p‐enriched EVs secreted by Wharton’s jelly‐mesenchymal stem cells (WJ‐MSCs) transfected with let-7a-5p, for therapeutic use in hyperoxia-induced lung injury. The authors demonstrate that treatment of let-7a-5p‐enriched EVs successfully alleviates hyperoxia‐induced lung injury via reduction of inflammatory responses and fibrotic activation. Their results provide strong support the therapeutic potential of modified EVs in regeneration medicine after tissue injury.
Thematic series article list:
- Chen Y.-F. et al. Exosomes: a review of biologic function, diagnostic and targeted therapy applications, and clinical trials. J. Biomed. Sci. 31:67, 2024.
- Zhang B. et al. Engineered EVs with pathogen proteins: promising vaccine alternatives to LNP-mRNA vaccines. J. Biomed. Sci. 31:9, 2024.
- Burnouf T. et al. Expanding applications of allogeneic platelets, platelet lysates, and platelet extracellular vesicles in cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and targeted drug delivery. J. Biomed. Sci. 30:79, 2023.
- Chen S.-Y. et al. Engineered extracellular vesicles carrying let‐7a‐5p for alleviating inflammation in acute lung injury. J. Biomed. Sci. 31:30, 2024.
