Choudhery MS, Arif T, Mahmood R, Harris DT. Stem cell derived exosomes: Emerging cell-free therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(3): 116226 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i3.116226]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mahmood S Choudhery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan. ms20031@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Cell Biology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
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World J Stem Cells. Mar 26, 2026; 18(3): 116226 Published online Mar 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i3.116226
Stem cell derived exosomes: Emerging cell-free therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders
Mahmood S Choudhery, Taqdees Arif, Ruhma Mahmood, David T Harris
Mahmood S Choudhery, Taqdees Arif, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
Ruhma Mahmood, Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
David T Harris, Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Biorepository, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
Author contributions: Choudhery MS, Arif T, and Mahmood R designed the contents of the manuscript, prepared, designed and modified the figures; Choudhery MS and Arif T wrote the original version of manuscript; Arif T and Mahmood R revised the manuscript; Choudhery MS and Harris DT critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Mahmood S Choudhery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan. ms20031@yahoo.com
Received: November 6, 2025 Revised: December 12, 2025 Accepted: February 5, 2026 Published online: March 26, 2026 Processing time: 140 Days and 1.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are progressive and irreversible conditions marked by neuronal loss, misfolded protein accumulation, and severe cognitive or motor decline. Current therapies cannot halt neuronal death, and stem cell transplantation is limited by the blood-brain barrier. Exosomes, nanoscale vesicles secreted by cells, overcome this limitation by naturally crossing the blood-brain barrier, carrying proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids with neuroprotective potential. Their role in diagnosis, biomarker discovery, and targeted drug delivery highlights exosomes as promising acellular therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders, with growing clinical interest and translational potential.
