The Therapeutic Potential of Exosomes from Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

Although treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) has undergone a revolution in the last decades, at least two important barriers remain: alleviation of innate inflammation driving disease progression and promotion of remyelination and neural regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties and promote remyelination in murine MS models. The main therapeutic mechanism has, however, been attributed to their potent paracrine capacity, and not to in vivo tissue implantation. Studies have demonstrated that exosomes released as part of the cells’ secretome effectively encapsulate the beneficial properties of MSCs. These membrane-enclosed nanoparticles contain a variety of proteins and nucleic acids and serve as mediators of intercellular communication. In vitro studies have demonstrated that exosomes from MSCs modulate activated microglia from an inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory phenotype and thereby dampen the innate inflammation. Rodent studies have also demonstrated potent immunomodulation and remyelination with improved outcomes following exosome administration. Thus, exosomes from MSCs may represent a potential cell-free treatment modality to prevent disease progression and promote remyelination in MS. In this narrative review, we summarize the current knowledge of exosomes from MSCs as a potential treatment for MS and discuss the remaining issues before successful translation into clinical trials.