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World J Stem Cells. May 26, 2023; 15(5): 453-465
Published online May 26, 2023. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i5.453
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: From now to the future
Bruno Moises de Matos, Marco Augusto Stimamiglio, Alejandro Correa, Anny Waloski Robert
Bruno Moises de Matos, Marco Augusto Stimamiglio, Alejandro Correa, Anny Waloski Robert, Stem Cells Basic Biology Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Curitiba 81350010, Paraná, Brazil
Author contributions: All authors contributed in literature review and wrote the manuscript; Stimamiglio MA revised the manuscript; Correa A and Robert AW designed the research; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Anny Waloski Robert, PhD, Technician, Stem Cells Basic Biology Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, Curitiba 81350010, Paraná, Brazil. anny.robert@fiocruz.br
Received: December 26, 2022
Peer-review started: December 26, 2022
First decision: January 31, 2023
Revised: February 14, 2023
Accepted: April 12, 2023
Article in press: April 12, 2023
Published online: May 26, 2023
Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometric particles that enclose cell-derived bioactive molecules in a lipid bilayer and serve as intercellular communication tools. Accordingly, in various biological contexts, EVs are reported to engage in immune modulation, senescence, and cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, EVs could be key elements for potential off-the-shelf cell-free therapy. Little has been studied regarding EVs derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-EVs), even though hPSCs offer good opportunities for induction of tissue regeneration and unlimited proliferative ability. In this review article, we provide an overview of studies using hPSC-EVs, focusing on identifying the conditions in which the cells are cultivated for the isolation of EVs, how they are characterized, and applications already demonstrated. The topics reported in this article highlight the incipient status of the studies in the field and the significance of hPSC-EVs’ prospective applications as PSC-derived cell-free therapy products.

Keywords: Pluripotent stem cells, Extracellular vesicles, Exosome, Cell-free therapy

Core Tip: The research on extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from different cell types, such as adult stem cells, has shown potential in the treatment of various pathologies. However, little has been explored regarding EVs derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-EVs). In this review, we provide an overview of studies carried out on these EVs, highlighting methodologies used for the culture of hPSCs for isolating EVs, their characteristics, and potential applications. We note the potential of hPSC-EVs as future acellular therapies. However, studies are in the infancy, and more research is needed to confirm their benefits.