Abstract

EV-based Therapeutics Development: No Place for the Weak

Mario Gimona, Head of Manufacturing-GMP, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg

Extracellular vesicle (EV)-enriched preparations obtained from multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are of particular interest for therapeutic use since they may convey anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and cyto-protective activities to the target tissues. MSCs secrete a variety of bioactive autocrine and paracrine factors including cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix proteins, EVs and growth factors. The circulating MSC-derived secretome is thus a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, macromolecular assemblies and vesicular structures, including various types of EVs. Current activities aim at quantitatively describing one or more biological activities present in/on EVs that are beneficial in elucidating the complex mechanism-of-action of the vesicular secretome, and that can assist in the required dose-finding for pre-clinical and clinical application. Understanding EV composition and dynamics will further increase the value of these nanosized particles as a potential tool for companion diagnostics.