Bhat Shreya, Kannan Suresh, Kolkundkar Uday Kumar, Seetharam Raviraja Neelavar
Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Stempeutics Research Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 048, India.
Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2025 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s13770-025-00746-5.
The human spine relies on intervertebral discs (IVDs) for support and mobility, functioning as shock absorbers that enable friction-free movement. However, IVDs are susceptible to degeneration (IVDD) due to age, excessive strain, and genetic factors, resulting in bulging or herniation that causes pain, stiffness, and nerve compression.
Current treatments primarily focus on symptom management through medication, physical therapy, or surgery in severe cases, without addressing tissue repair.
Exosome therapy has recently emerged as a promising regenerative approach for IVDD. Exosomes are small, membrane-bound vesicles released by cells, acting as messengers to transport proteins and RNA that influence recipient cell behavior.
Researchers are investigating exosomes for IVDD because they may promote disc repair and regeneration by delivering molecules that stimulate tissue recovery and carry anti-inflammatory agents to reduce inflammation and modulate pain. Engineering strategies, such as loading exosomes with therapeutic cargo or targeting molecules, can further enhance their efficacy. While exosome therapy for IVDD is still in early research stages, ongoing studies are promising, though challenges remain in optimizing isolation methods and ensuring clinical safety.
Exosome-based therapies could offer a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution for individuals affected by IVDD.
人类脊柱依靠椎间盘来提供支撑和实现活动功能，椎间盘起到减震器的作用，使脊柱能够无摩擦地运动。然而，由于年龄、过度劳损和遗传因素，椎间盘易发生退变（椎间盘退变），导致椎间盘膨出或突出，进而引起疼痛、僵硬和神经压迫。
目前的治疗主要集中在通过药物、物理治疗或在严重情况下进行手术来控制症状，而没有解决组织修复问题。
外泌体疗法最近已成为一种有前景的用于治疗椎间盘退变的再生方法。外泌体是细胞释放的小的、有膜包裹的囊泡，作为信使运输影响受体细胞行为的蛋白质和RNA。
研究人员正在研究外泌体用于治疗椎间盘退变，因为它们可能通过递送刺激组织恢复的分子和携带抗炎剂以减轻炎症和调节疼痛来促进椎间盘修复和再生。诸如用治疗性货物或靶向分子加载外泌体等工程策略可以进一步提高其疗效。虽然用于治疗椎间盘退变的外泌体疗法仍处于早期研究阶段，但正在进行的研究很有前景，不过在优化分离方法和确保临床安全性方面仍存在挑战。
基于外泌体的疗法可为受椎间盘退变影响的个体提供一种安全、有效且微创的解决方案。
