Exosomes and Acne Treatment
- Casey Anthony
- Mar 17, 2020
- 1 min read
Greg Chernoff, BSc, MD, FRCSC

The Utilization of Exosomes in Treating Acne
KEY POINTS:
1. Exosomes are 40-100nm lipid membrane paracrine messenger packets, commercially available from placental tissue, whose mesenchymal stem cells secrete a cargo rich in growth and immunomodulatory substances.
2. Exosomes contain messengerRNA, microRNA, and transmembrane proteins from their parent cells, which are important in regulating uptake by other cells.
3. With proper homing events, exosomes can illicit regenerative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pain mitigating events.
4. P acnes induced inflammation has been shown to be mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. It is believed that subclinical inflammation precedes comedone formation. By rectifying aberrations in a patients’ immune response, targeted acne improvement is possible.
5. The intradermal and intravenous use of exosomes has proven beneficial in the treatment of P acnes.
STUDY DESIGN:
Ten patients with active acne ranging in severity from moderate to severe, were treated with either intradermal or intravenous exosomes. In some instances unilateral exosomes were injected, while a saline placebo was injected on the contralateral side. Patients were followed weekly. Bilateral acne counts and photography were performed weekly.
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