Stem Cell Secretome as a New Booster for Regenerative Medicine

The document from August 31, 2019, discusses a shift in understanding of how stem cell transplantation aids tissue repair, suggesting that the therapeutic effects may be largely due to the secretome—comprising growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, angiogenic factors, and exosomes—rather than the direct replacement of damaged cells. This secretome is believed to play a crucial role in physiological processes such as apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis by leading endogenous and progenitor cells to injury sites. Research has shown limited stem cell engraftment at injury sites, indicating that the secretome's immunomodulatory and paracrine functions are primarily responsible for stem cells' therapeutic effects. The stem cell secretome has demonstrated significant potential in various clinical applications, including the treatment of cardiac dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, type 1 diabetes, hair loss, tumors, and joint osteoarthritis.