Exosomes have been hailed as the latest cure-all. We don’t yet know if these exosomes work.
We know that exosomes can be tiny particles that are released from cells. Their contents vary greatly depending on their source (some options include salmon testicles and roses), and the health or stress of the cell. Even cell biologists disagree on the contents of exosomes and their potential benefits or dangers. Some researchers compare the world of exosome therapies to a Wild West. We don’t have any rigorous trials, so we can’t tell you how safe it is for these little mystery blobs to be injected or sprayed on. The FDA has not approved any exosome products in the US or UK. Exosome products have not been approved by regulatory agencies in the US, UK or Europe where they are gaining popularity. Leigh Turner is a bioethicist, public health researcher and University of California Irvine researcher who monitors direct-to consumer marketing of unapproved products. “Risks are commonly minimized, and benefits are commonly exaggerated.”
This hasn’t stopped customers from flocking to the growing number of aesthetic centers, stem-cell clinics, and medspas offering exosome treatments, hoping for a miracle fix. In 2023, the global market for skin-care exosome products was estimated at $256 millions. This is expected to increase to $674 in six years.
Mystery blobs
Technically referred to as vesicles, exosomes are made inside cells before being released. Long a mystery, exosomes are made inside cells before being released. In the 1980s, “exosomes” became a popular term. The tiny particles, now known as exosomes, were previously called “platelet dust” and “matrix vasicles.” In 1996, research suggested that exosomes could also help cells communicate through the delivery of signals. A dying cell, for example, could send a message to nearby cells to give them the chance to produce protective substances to avoid the same fate. Cancer cells could use exosomes as a way to co-opt cells and support tumor growth. It’s still not clear what signals are being sent. James Edgar, a researcher at the University of Cambridge in UK who studies exosomes, says that it depends on who you ask. Cell biologists all agree that exosomes are made up of proteins, lipids and other molecules resulting from cell metabolism. Not everyone is convinced that they contain DNA or RNA. Edgar says it’s difficult to prove that exosomes contain DNA or RNA. Although the first images were published in 1970, we don’t know what they look. Raghu Kalluri, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and his colleagues study the shape of the exosomes in order to determine if they are oval, round, or rod-like.
