Therapeutic Implications of Stem Cell Secretome

Abstract

The stem cell secretome is a collective mixture of soluble and insoluble factors released by stem cells during paracrine communication and/or autocrine signaling. In addition to intracellular communication, these paracrine factors play an integral role in tissue development and generation, acting as the primary driving force in the regenerative properties of stem cells. Despite such great potential of stem cell secretome in therapeutic applications, the lack of secretome-based treatments available for the public at the time of writing is odd and puzzling. Hence, this review aims to provide insights into recent advancements in understanding the stem cell secretome, as well as discuss future possibilities and current limitations that must be overcome for the proper development of secretome-based therapies. Through utilizing the MEDLINE database from the National Library of Medicine® (NLM), we found that while there is much evidence of the therapeutic effects of secretome-based therapy, flaws involving regulations and standardization hinder it from revolutionizing regenerative medicine at present. It is cardinal to emphasize that while secretome-based therapy may be the solution for many untreatable conditions, much research is still required before it is approved for clinical practice.