Regenerative Medicine 101: Extracellular Vesicles (Exosomes) and Stem Cells

Ian White, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer, IMAC Regeneration Centers, Miami, FL; Chairman of the Scientific Committee, American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians; President, BioFirma, LLC

Our bodies retain a robust ability to repair and regenerate throughout the entire course of our lives. Each and every day our bodies lose millions of cells, which must be constantly replenished from pools of stem cells lest we rapidly expire. Aging, chronic pain and chronic injury result from a progressive increase in the demand for stem cells while we experience a concurrent decline in stem cell availability and function. The symptoms of aging and the causes of pain can be treated with modern therapies derived from younger, allogeneic sources. Umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells and MSC-derived exosomes are a potent source of regenerative proteins and RNAs. They can be administered therapeutically in an off-the-shelf manner due to their immune privileged state and used effectively as a flowable allograft without pathological rejection. As we continue to develop these new perinatal products it is important to understand the foundational biology of these cells in order to innovate and utilize their potential in the safest and most effective ways.