The Medical Advisor

Patients paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries may one day achieve complete recovery following stem cell and exosome therapy. Even though these treatments are not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), clinical cases and research have shown that these two novel regenerative medicine treatments offer new hope to those suffering from previously incurable conditions such as traumatic paralysis. Stem cells have the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types. Stem cell therapy can regenerate and repair tissues damaged or affected by disease by directing stem cells to develop into specific types of cells. Exosomes are membrane-bound extracellular vesicles released from cells, with diameters ranging from approximately 40 to 160 nanometers. These vesicles accumulate specific cellular components, such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, which possess functional, targeted, and mechanistic properties, playing a role in modulating...

In scientific terms, the secretome is the totality of all substances released by stem cells to the outside. These include micro-vesicles, exosomes, proteins, cytokines (cell messengers), hormone-like substances and so-called immunomodulatory substances. Based on current science, it is believed that the effect of stem cells in clinical trials conducted to date is not from the cells as such, but via the vesicles, protein molecules and other substances such as cytokines released by the cells. These substances released to the outside are called "the secretome" as an umbrella term, because the release is called secretion. Which substances of the secretome trigger the actual effects is still largely unknown. What is a Secretome? Stem cells communicate with other cells by releasing messenger substances to the outside. The totality of all released substances is called secretome (from secretion = release to the outside). The secretome can contain exosomes, micro-vesicles, proteins, gr...