Current Applications of Endothelial Progenitor Cells–Derived Extracellular Vesicles: From Vascular Repair to Sepsis
摘要
Transplantation of stem cells is nowadays regarded as a promising emerging treatment strategy for several life-threatening diseases. However, it has been shown that the therapeutic efficacy and the clinical applicability of transplanted stem cells can be hampered by some limitations, thereby highlighting the need for developing new alternatives. In this regard, stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are lipid-bound nanoparticles, have been shown to be key messengers in cell-to-cell communication and to exert biological functions. Consistently, scientific evidence has shown that EVs exhibit regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic properties. Furthermore, stem cell–derived EV therapy offers a wide array of advantages over stem cell therapy as a treatment option for various diseases. In this chapter, the promises of EVs derived from endothelial progenitor cells as a new and innovative tool in regenerative medicine providing us with a novel therapeutic solution are discussed.