STEM CELLS & AUTISM
Are exosomes relevant to autism?
A study was done with autistic-like mice. These mice were given exosomes using nasal drops. They showed significant improvement in social interaction, vocal communication, and a reduction in repetitive behaviors.
A test of children's serum with ASD found that they secrete more pro-inflammatory substances than children with normal development. The theory is that exosomes can help reduce the release of pro-inflammatory substances and thus improve the symptoms of autism (1). (This study line is still very much in its infancy).
Regarding the way the exosomes are given; a study that tested subjecting exosomes using nasal drops versus giving them intravenously showed an advantage for the method of using nasal drops (2).
It is important to note that research on exosomes is in its infancy. Various clinics around the world have already begun to incorporate the use of exosomes in their treatments, but research has so far been conducted on animals (mice). There is great enthusiasm in the scientific community about the therapeutic potential of exosomes and thinking that they will occupy an important place in the future in the treatment of various medical conditions but the research road is still long.
1. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/3/944/htm
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1465324920301237