What is Exosome Banking?
The medical field is constantly expanding, bringing new forms of treatment into the realm of possibility for serious medical conditions and diseases. With numerous clinical trials using newborn stem cells being conducted yearly, the chances of scientists discovering medical breakthroughs increase each year.
One of the exciting advancements and focus of many clinical trials is the use of newborn cord-blood derived exosomes to regulate immune responses, support wound healing, and initiate cell growth and development.
What are Exosomes?
Exosomes are tiny, extracellular vesicles that act as messengers by shuttling cellular components and genetic information to other cells. They initiate cell-to-cell communication.
Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles containing biomolecules that are released naturally in the body. These small packages of genetic material range from 30-150 nm, and carry components such as lipids, proteins, and RNA/DNA.
How do Exosomes work?
Exosomes carry genetic information and proteins to cells throughout the body, and they create paths for communication between cells.
In 2007, Swedish scientist, Jan Lötvall, from the University of Gothenburg published a study that shows some cells use exosomes to transfer genetic material — messenger RNAs to make proteins and microRNAs to regulate the expression of genes — between each other.
Today, exosome vesicles have been implicated in spreading diseases, including cancer, and metabolic conditions, such as diabetes. Researchers believe that these same vesicles could be used to stop disease or become a new frontier of regenerative medicine.
Where Do Exosomes Come From?
Exosomes are small membrane-bound vesicles that are released from multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and centrifugal tubule cells. Exosomes are one of the several groups of extracellular vesicles which include ectosomes secreted directly from the plasma membranes and apoptotic bodies released from dying cells. Exosomes originate from the inward budding of the cell membranes followed by formation of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). When MVBs fuse with the plasma membranes, exosomes are released.
What Research is Currently Being Done on Exosomes?
Currently there are more than 100 clinical trials involving exosomes researching numerous applications. These clinical trials include treatments for Pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer, Metastatic Melanoma, and even blood disorders such as Platelet Function, Blood Coagulation, inflammatory diseases, and neuro-degeneration.
Preserving exosomes will unlock another layer of potential protection for your entire family’s health and during the lifetime of your child.
Are Exosome Treatments FDA-Approved?
Although they are the subject of more than 100 clinical trials, presently exosome products or therapies are not FDA-approved for any use.
Americord isolates and concentrates exosomes that are naturally found in cord blood with minimal manipulation of the stem cells or the exosomes themselves. In addition, these exosomes are only intended to be used by first and second degree genetic relatives of the baby and only within clinical trials. Americord acknowledges that exosomes are not an FDA-approved treatment and does not claim any therapeutic benefit.
Based on the increasing number of clinical trials centered around medical treatments using exosomes. Americord is excited to offer this service to families for potential future clinical use.
Why Should You Bank Your Baby’s Exosomes?
Decades of research have yielded evidence for the role of exosomes in intercellular communication. In fact, pre-clinical research has shown that exosomes may regulate immune responses, wound healing, and cell growth and development.
Today, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments, but researchers and scientists are studying these tiny vesicles for more than 100 clinical trials researching numerous applications for exosomes.
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By banking your baby’s exosomes, you are preserving the possibility of future use. It could be years before there is any form of treatment available with exosomes, however having access to saved exosomes may prove to be a life-saving option for your family down the road.
Americord acknowledges that exosomes are not FDA-approved for use in treatments or products. Americord does not claim exosomes have any current therapeutic benefit. The client understands that they bank their child’s exosomes for use in clinical trials and research which may provide utility in the future.
The views, statements, and pricing expressed are deemed reliable as of the published date. Articles may not reflect current pricing, offerings, or recent innovations.
