2. Home
  3. Stem Cell Therapies
  4. Stem Cell Secretome (SCS)

What is a Stem Cell Secretome? What are Exosomes ?

In scientific terms, the secretome is the totality of all substances released by stem cells to the outside. These include micro-vesicles, exosomes, proteins, cytokines (cell messengers), hormone-like substances and so-called immunomodulatory substances.

Based on current science, it is believed that the effect of stem cells in clinical trials conducted to date is not from the cells as such, but via the vesicles, protein molecules and other substances such as cytokines released by the cells. These substances released to the outside are called "the secretome" as an umbrella term, because the release is called secretion. Which substances of the secretome trigger the actual effects is still largely unknown. The ANOVA IRM secretome is produced from autologous mesenchymal stem cells.

.

MSC-stem-cell-secretome-exosomes-therapy ANOVA IRM |Germany

Secretome of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)
ANOVA IRM - Deutschland

Jump Directly to the Following Topics:

Conditions in Which Secretome Is Currently Being Investigated:

  • Chronic inflammatory diseases
  • Neurological disorders (MS, ALS, Parkinson)
  • Poly-osteo-arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic inflammatory diseases
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Erectile Dysfunktion, Impotence

Secretome therapy is an experimental therapy that we apply only as an individual treatment attempt. The listed conditions are areas of ongoing research; a benefit for the individual patient cannot be predicted or promised.

Is Secretome the Same as Exosomes?

Secretome and exosomes are sometimes used as synonyms, but they are actually different.

The secretome is the totality of all messenger substances released to the outside, including the micro-vesicles and exosomes, but also other important factors that are dissolved in the fluid. These include many growth factors that are being studied in regeneration research, and so-called cytokines (cell-cell messengers).

Exosomes, on the other hand, are actually only the particulate exosomes that are isolated from the whole. Isolation concentrates them, but the important solutes and micro-vesicles are lost.

stem-cells-therapy-comparison-secretome-exosome | ANOVA IRM |Germany

Comparison of secretome and exosomes of MSC
ANOVA IRM - Germany

What is a Stem Cell Secretome Therapy?

ANOVA's stem cell secretome therapy is an experimental therapy that we apply only as an individual treatment attempt, after established treatment options have been considered. Whether an individual patient benefits cannot be predicted or promised. In stem cell secretome therapy, stem cells are obtained from the patient's own adipose tissue (autologous stem cells, adipose stem cells, adipogenic stem cells, ADSCs). This initial small number of stem cells is grown and expanded (multiplied) in the pharmaceutical clean-room laboratory. This allows to obtain significantly more stem cells than e.g. in BMC without propagation. The goal of this process is to increase the number of stem cells and to obtain the substances that stem cells release to the outside – substances whose potentially regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties are currently being examined in laboratory and early clinical research. Instead of implanting or injecting stem cells into the patient, only the produced cellular components, i.e. the secretome, are applied. Because no living cells are administered, risks that are specific to the injection of living stem cells do not arise. This does not mean the therapy is free of risk; its safety has not been established in large clinical studies.

     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

What are the Advantages of Treatment With
Stem Cell Secretome Compared to Stem Cells

In short, compared to BMC, pure mesenchymal stem cells are obtained and several doses can be obtained from one tissue collection, which allows repeated administration over a longer period – one reason why this approach is being explored in chronic conditions.

Moreover, the secretome is storable, fully quality controlled before use and is made from 90-98% pure MSC mesenchymal stem cells.

The use of stem cells is still limited in most countries. This has severely limited their use in medicine, despite early and still limited clinical findings in a number of chronic or currently incurable diseases. Reasons for this include the fact that stem cells can lose their efficacy if they expand too much, altered cells can develop, and stem cells, at least those derived from blood (hematopoietic stem cells), are altered when frozen, which in turn alters their potential efficacy, including the composition of the substances they deliver to the outside world.

The ANOVA science team has developed and implemented a process that obtains the components stem cells release to the outside - the stem cell secretome. Which of these components contribute to the effects observed in research is still the subject of scientific investigation.

The secretome that ANOVA uses in Offenbach differs from cell-based products in several respects:

No living cells are injected into the patient, i.e. no altered stem cells can be injected.

The secretome is made of mildly expanded (i.e. potentially less altered cells). The composition of the secretome is not altered by freezing.

After production, the secretome can be stored in this composition. Exosomes and other substances contained in the secretome remain stable. This allows to produce numerous doses with one withdrawal, which can then be used over a period of up to 2 years.

These properties are the reason why the secretome is being investigated primarily in the context of chronic diseases.

.

anova irm comparision mesenchymal stem cells and secretome

MSC and MSC secretome in comparison

Stem Cell Secretome Production and Application


anova irm stem cell treatment secretome therapy production

Secretome Production and Application
ANOVA IRM - Germany

     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

Workflow of the Tissue Donation for Generation of MSC Secretome

Image

Liposuction

Step 1 - Harvesting Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from subcutaneous adipose tissue

At ANOVA we use the so-called "nutational infrasonic liposuction", employing the Euromi Lipomatic® system. This technique is used because it is designed to be gentle on the tissue and to preserve the viability of the cells it contains.

The adipose tissue is immediately processed in an ISO and GMP-certified clean-room under defined quality controls.

Step 2 - Processing the stem cells and production of the Stem Cell Secretome (SCS)


In our specialized clean-room laboratories, the “stromal vascular fraction” (SVF) is isolated from adipose tissue after enzymatic digestion. The SVF is a mixture of different types of cells. It contains a high percentage of MSCs (equivalent of up to 500.000 cells per gram), and is one of the highest amounts of MSCs to be found in the human body.

In the next step, the cells are multiplied until they reach the requested quantity. By subjecting the cells to external stimuli, they are stimulated to secrete cytokines, micro-RNAs and growth factors that are packed in extracellular vesicles (micro-vesicles and exosomes). Together, these factors make up the secretome.

After a comprehensive quality control, the stem cell secretome is then ready for use, and can be stored at minus 80°C. This makes it possible to design a therapy plan that allows for several infusions over a period of up to 2 years.

 

ANOVA-IRM-Deutschland-Stammzellen-Injektion-Kultivierung-Vermehrung-3-Flaschen

Production

Image

Application

 

Step 3 - Application and treatment with ANOVA's Stem Cell Secretome therapy

From a single isolation of stem cells via liposuction of the patient's adipose tissue (step 1), up to 10 doses of Stem Cell Secretome can be obtained, which are administered systemically via infusion.

The earliest application of Stem Cell Secretome is possible 4 weeks after liposuction. During that time, our specialists in the laboratory prepare the product and perform quality controls.



     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

Individual Treatment Plans - Injections

When creating your treatment plan, both the disease-specific factors and your specific situation as a patient are taken into account. In general, 10 doses are available after liposuction. Depending on the disease and stage, the treatments for acute diseases tend to take place in quick succession (intense, figure below), for chronic diseases at regular intervals. For patients from Germany and surrounding countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Spain, etc., it is usually easy and inexpensive to travel several times. Therefore, injections are usually scheduled once as multiple doses and subsequently as single injections 6-8 weeks apart (boost+balanced). In contrast, for patients from distant regions such as the USA, Canada, South America, Brazil, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, etc., treatments are usually scheduled continuously as multiple doses but at longer intervals to reduce the number of trips.

Image

Secretome Treatment Plan ANOVA IRM Germany

     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

Treatment Workflow in Detail

The scheme below summarizes all steps towards your individual therapy at ANOVA IRM. It starts from your first charge-free contacts and inquiries to ANOVA including the initial analysis whether our therapies are suitable for treatment of your condition and if you are eligible as a donor. Continues with financial issues such as cost-estimate and treatment contracts, virtual or in person doctoral appointments, your trip to Offenbach, Germany, testing, physical exams, tissue donation, stem cell product cultivation and quality control up to application.

 
anova irm stem cell treatment secretome therapy SCS 7 steps

The 7 Steps of your Stem Cell Therapy

Contraindications

Our stem cell treatments are experimental, but we only treat patients for whom we believe the risk/benefit ratio indicates treatment based on the state of the art, i.e., medical, scientific evidence.

Please understand that we therefore do not treat patients for whom the following points apply:

  • Active cancer in the last two years
  • Not yet of legal age
  • Existing pregnancy or lactation period
  • Unable to breathe on own, ventilator
  • Difficulty breathing in supine position
  • Dysphagia (extreme difficulty swallowing)
  • Psychiatric disorder
  • Active infectious disease (Hepatitis A, B, C, HIV, Syphilis, or other)
     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

ANOVA Stem Cell Secretome Therapy: Advantages and Applications

Advantages

  • The Secretome is cell-free, so risks that are specific to the administration of living cells do not arise.
  • Experience with autologous secretome to date covers a few hundred patients. No serious side effects have been reported in this small group. This is early and limited safety experience and does not establish the safety of the therapy.
  • Doses can be produced from as few as 1 million mesenchymal stem cells.
  • The Stem Cell Secretome, once produced, is ready for use and can be stored at -80°C for up to 2 years.
  • Up to ten doses of Stem Cell Secretome are available for a treatment course without renewed stem cell isolation.
  • ANOVA Stem Cell Secretome therapy can be carried out at regular intervals over extended periods of time, e.g. at weekly intervals, providing a scheduled treatment plan instead of a single treatment at only one time point.

Applications

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Exosomes - Secretome

More Information on exosomes is also given in your blog post: The Power of Exosomes.

Vocabulary and Definitions

Differentiation - Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into different cell types depending on external stimuli and signals. MSC e.g. must be able to become at least bone cells, cartilage cells and fat cells to be called stem cell.

Cancer, cancer cell - cells in which the normal regulation of cell division is no longer functional. These cells divide even though this would not be necessary and thus continue to multiply to the detriment of the organism.

Morphology - The shape, appearance of cells under the microscope.

Proliferation - cell division, cell multiplication

Stem cell - a cell that has a greater potential in its reproduction than normal body cells. It can renew itself and differentiate into several cell types = functionalize.

What is a Secretome?

Stem cells communicate with other cells by releasing messenger substances to the outside. The totality of all released substances is called secretome (from secretion = release to the outside). The secretome can contain exosomes, micro-vesicles, proteins, growth factors, hormones, cytokines and other substances. A scientific review article on vesicles can be found here.

What is an Exosome?

Exosomes are small messenger packages that cells release to the outside.They ar a part of the secretome.

Exosomes are approximately 30-100nm (i.e. 0.03 to 0.1mm) in size and consist of an outer double-lipid layer (like liposomes) and an interior that can be loaded with fluid and messengers such as miRNA and proteins. Exosomes are released to the outside by the fusion of multi-vesicular corpuscles inside the cell with the cell membrane. There, they can be taken up by other cells to mediate reactions. A scientific review article on vesicles can be found here.

What are Micro-Vesicles?

Micro-vesicles are also lipid membrane-coated particles that can carry cargo. However, at 100 to 1,000nm in size, they are larger than exosomes and are released to the outside by pinching off (exocytosis) at the cell membrane. A scientific review article on vesicles can be found at hier.

What are Growth Factors?

Chemically, growth factors usually are proteins that bind to receptors on the outer surface of target cells. Many cells produce growth factors such as EGF (epidermal growth factor), PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), NGF (neuronal growth factor), bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) etc. Growth factors in general are not related to Human growth hormone (HGH).

Cells respond to their environment. They divide only when necessary. In a healthy body, for example, a liver cell divides only once a year to replace dead cells. The signal for a cell to divide can be the loss of neighboring cells (cut) or growth factors produced by other cells. These factors diffuse to other cells, bind to receptors on the surface, and trigger signaling cascades inside the target cell that stimulate division. Inflammation often inhibits cell division (proliferation).

How is Secretome Produced? What Tissue is Used for Secretome Production?

The secretome used by the ANOVA Institute for Regenerative Medicine is produced from mesenchymal stem cells of the patient (autologous = own stem cells). These are extracted from the abdominal fat in a short, mini-liposuction and subsequently cultivated very gently and thus propagated.

After fat harvesting, the starting material is the SVF (stromal vascular fraction) isolated from it, which contains only about 1-10% MSC and progenitor cells. Subsequently, the MSC are cultivated, multiplied and a pure culture consisting of 90-98% MSC is obtained.

The fact that these cells are division-active stem cells has been proven by a so-called multi-differentiation assay. In this, the MSC are differentiated into cell types (cartilage cells, bone cells and fat cells) over 2-3 weeks. If this is successful, we have one of several proofs that the cells are indeed stem cells. In addition, we check each batch for purity.

What are the Advantages of Secretome?

The great advantage of the secretome is that it can be frozen. If stem cells are frozen, their properties change and this can lead to a loss of efficacy. In the case of chronic diseases, however, a continuous therapy is needed, i.e. stem cells would have to be taken again and again. In the case of secretome, up to ten doses can be obtained from one collection and thus administered repeatedly over a period of up to 2 years.

Another advantage is that MSC (mesenchymal stem cells, stromal cells), which are cultivated over a longer period of time, bear the risk of cancer cells developing in the culture. If these cells are then used, they will be transferred to the patient. Because the ANOVA secretome is cell-free and quality-controlled, cultured cells are not transferred to the patient, so this particular risk does not apply.

More Stem Cells - More Effect? Older Stem Cells - Lower Efficacy!

Many patients believe that a larger amount of stem cells also achieves better effects. This is correct up to a limit that is difficult to define. However, since it is not yet possible to measure "efficacy", or only in very few cases, one should be very cautious here. Many characteristics of stem cells are not well understood so far and nobody knows exactly which factors and substances define an effect. The only thing that is really known exactly is that with increasing multiplication (generations, population doublings) the efficacy potential decreases. That is, the more you multiply stem cells, the less likely they are to still be effective.

ANOVA therefore multiplies the cells only within the conservative limits recognized internationally in research and science, in order to limit the potential loss of efficacy described above.


 

Contact us for a free, non-binding initial enquiry
+49 (0) 69 50 50 00 944
     
Please use our contact form for
 detailed information.

References and Literature - Stem Cell Secretome

  1. Konala, Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, et al. "The current landscape of the mesenchymal stromal cell secretome: a new paradigm for cell-free regeneration." Cytotherapy 18.1 (2016): 13-24.
  2. Lopez-Verrilli, M. A., et al. "Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes from different sources selectively promote neuritic outgrowth." Neuroscience 320 (2016): 129-139.
  3. Kim, Hyun Ok, Seong-Mi Choi, and Han-Soo Kim. "Mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome and microvesicles as a cell-free therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders." Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 10.3 (2013): 93-101.
  4. Rani, Sweta, et al. "Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: toward cell-free therapeutic applications." Molecular Therapy 23.5 (2015): 812-823.
  5. Zhang, Xiaoyan, et al. "Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Roles in Tumor Growth, Progression, and Drug Resistance." Stem Cells International 2017 (2017).
  6. omzikova, Marina O., and Albert A. Rizvanov. "Current Trends in Regenerative Medicine: From Cell to Cell-Free Therapy." BioNanoScience (2016): 1-6.
  7. Zhang, Bin, et al. "Focus on extracellular vesicles: Therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived extracellular Vesicles." International journal of molecular sciences 17.2 (2016): 174.
  8. Katsuda T. et al. (2013). Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells secrete functional neprilysin-bound exosomes. Scientific reports, 3, 1197.
  9. Pusic A. D. et al. (2014). IFN?-stimulated dendritic cell exosomes as a potential therapeutic for remyelination. Journal of neuroimmunology, 266(1), 12-23.
  10. Maumus M, Jorgensen C, Noël D (2013) Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine applied to rheumatic diseases: Role of secretome and exosomes. Biochimie 95:2229?2234. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.04.017
  11. Drago D, Cossetti C, Iraci N, et al (2013) Biochimie The stem cell secretome and its role in brain repair. Biochimie 95:2271?2285. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.06.020
  12. Sevivas N, Teixeira FG, Portugal R, et al (2016) Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome: A Potential Tool for the Prevention of Muscle Degenerative Changes Associated With Chronic Rotator Cuff Tears. Am J Sports Med. doi: 10.1177/0363546516657827
  13. Hs K (2016) Mesenchymal Stem Cells vs . Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment. 1:1?2.
  14. Maumus M, Jorgensen C, Noël D (2013) Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine applied to rheumatic diseases: Role of secretome and exosomes. Biochimie 95:2229?2234. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.04.017
  15. Kapur SK, Katz AJ (2013) Biochimie Review of the adipose derived stem cell secretome. Biochimie 95:2222?2228. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.06.001
  16. Ranganath SH, Levy O, Inamdar MS, Karp JM (2012) Harnessing the mesenchymal stem cell secretome for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cell Stem Cell 10:244?258. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.02.005
  17. Tran C, Damaser MS (2015) Stem cells as drug delivery methods: Application of stem cell secretome for regeneration. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 82:1?11. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2014.10.007
  18. Zimmerlin L, Park TS, Zambidis ET, et al (2013) Mesenchymal stem cell secretome and regenerative therapy after cancer. Biochimie 95:2235?2245. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.05.010
  19. Calamia V, Lourido L, Fernandez-Puente P, et al (2012) Secretome analysis of chondroitin sulfate-treated chondrocytes reveals its anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties. Arthritis Res Ther 14:R202. doi: 10.1186/ar4040
  20. Ranganath SH, Levy O, Inamdar MS, Karp JM (2012) Review Harnessing the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Stem Cell 10:244?258. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.02.005
  21. Teixeira FG, Carvalho MM, Sousa N, Salgado AJ (2013) Mesenchymal stem cells secretome: A new paradigm for central nervous system regeneration? Cell Mol Life Sci 70:3871?3882. doi: 10.1007/s00018-013-1290-8
  22. Kapur SK, Katz AJ (2013) Review of the adipose derived stem cell secretome. Biochimie 95:2222?2228. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.06.001
  23. Chang C-P, Chio C-C, Cheong C-U, et al (2013) Hypoxic preconditioning enhances the therapeutic potential of the secretome from cultured human mesenchymal stem cells in experimental traumatic brain injury. Clin Sci (Lond) 124:165?76. doi: 10.1042/CS20120226
  24. Salgado AJ, Sousa JC, Costa BM, et al (2015) Mesenchymal stem cells secretome as a modulator of the neurogenic niche: basic insights and therapeutic opportunities. Front Cell Neurosci 9:1?18. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00249
  25. Ahmed NE-MB, Murakami M, Hirose Y, Nakashima M (2016) Therapeutic Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Secretome for Alzheimer?s Disease Treatment: An In Vitro Study. Stem Cells Int 2016:8102478. doi: 10.1155/2016/8102478
  26. Bhaskar V, Konala R, Mamidi MK, et al (2016) The current landscape of the mesenchymal stromal cell secretome : A new paradigm for cell-free regeneration. Cytotherapy 18:13?24. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.10.008
  27. Malda J, Boere J, van de Lest C, et al (2016) Extracellular vesicles - new tool for joint repair and regeneration - IN PRESS. Nat Rev Rheumatol 12:243?249. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2015.170
  28. Lener T, Gimona M, Aigner L, et al (2015) Applying extracellular vesicles based therapeutics in clinical trials Á an ISEV position paper. 1:1?31.
  29. Dostert G, Mesure B, Menu P, Velot É (2017) How Do Mesenchymal Stem Cells Influence or Are Influenced by Microenvironment through Extracellular Vesicles Communication ? 5:1?7. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00006
  30. Joshi P, Benussi L, Furlan R, et al (2015) Extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer?s disease: Friends or foes? focus on A?-vesicle interaction. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 16:4800?4813.
  31. Gao T, Guo W, Chen M, et al (2016) Extracellular Vesicles and Autophagy in Osteoarthritis.
  32. Katsuda T, Ochiya T (2015) Molecular signatures of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicle-mediated tissue repair. Stem Cell Res Ther 6:212. doi: 10.1186/s13287-015-0214-y
  33. Lener T, Gioma M, Aigner L, et al (2015) Applying extracellular vesicles based therapeutics in clinical trials - an ISEV position paper. J Extracell Vesicles 4:1?31. doi: 10.3402/jev.v4.30087
  34. Xu Y, Guo S, Wei C, et al (2016) The Comparison of Adipose Stem Cell and Placental Stem Cell in Secretion Characteristics and in Facial Antiaging.
  35. Buul GM Van, Villafuertes E, Bos PK, et al (2012) Mesenchymal stem cells secrete factors that inhibit in fl ammatory processes in short-term osteoarthritic synovium and cartilage explant culture. Osteoarthr Cartil 20:1186?1196. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2012.06.003
  36. Baglio SR, Pegtel DM, Baldini N (2012) Mesenchymal stem cell secreted vesicles provide novel opportunities in ( stem ) cell-free therapy. 3:1?11. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00359
  37. Anderson JD, Pham MT, Contreras Z, et al (2016) Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for ischemic stroke. Chinese Neurosurg J 2:36. doi: 10.1186/s41016-016-0053-4
  38. Biology C, Cell R, Eye N, Institutes N (2017) Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosomes Promote Survival of Retinal Ganglion Cells Through miRNA-Dependent Mechanisms. 1273?1285.

  1. Georg Hansmann, Philippe Chouvarine, Franziska Diekmann, Martin Giera, Markus Ralser, Michael Mülleder, Constantin von Kaisenberg, Harald Bertram, Ekaterina Legchenko & Ralf Hass "Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived treatment of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension". Nature Cardiovascular Research volume 1, pages568–576 (2022).
  2. Murphy JM, Fink DJ, Hunziker EB, et al. Stem cell therapy in a caprine model of osteoarthritis . Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48:3464–74.
  3. Lee KB, Hui JH, Song IC, Ardany L, et al. Injectable mesenchymal stem cell therapy for large cartilage defects—a porcine model. Stem Cell. 2007;25:2964–71.
  4. Saw KY, Hussin P, Loke SC, et al. Articular cartilage regeneration with autologous marrow aspirate and hyaluronic acid: an experimental study in a goat model. Arthroscopy . 2009;25(12):1391–400.
  5. Black L, Gaynor J, Adams C, et al. Effect of intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells on clinical signs of chronic osteoarthritis of the elbow joint in dogs. Vet Ther. 2008;9:192-200.
  6. Centeno C, Busse D, Kisiday J, et al. Increased knee cartilage volume in degenerative joint disease using percutaneously implanted, autologous mesenchymal stem cells. Pain Physician. 2008;11(3):343–53.
  7. Centeno C, Kisiday J, Freeman M, et al. Partial regeneration of the human hip via autologous bone marrow nucleated cell transfer: a case study. Pain Physician. 2006;9:253–6.
  8. Centeno C, Schultz J, Cheever M. Safety and complications reporting on the re-implantation of culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells using autologous platelet lysate technique. Curr Stem Cell. 2011;5(1):81–93.
  9. Pak J. Regeneration of human bones in hip osteonecrosis and human cartilage in knee osteoarthritis with autologous adipose derived stem cells: a case series. J Med Case Rep. 2001;5:296.
  10. Kuroda R, Ishida K, et al. Treatment of a full-thickness articular cartilage defect in the femoral condyle of an athlete with autologous bone-marrow stromal cells. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007;15:226–31.
  11. Emadedin M, Aghdami N, Taghiyar L, et al. Intra-articular injection of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in six patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arch Iran Med. 2012;15(7):422–8.
  12. Saw KY et al. Articular cartilage regeneration with autologous peripheral blood stem cells versus hyaluronic acid: a randomized controlled trial. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(4):684–94.
  13. Vangsness CT, Farr J, Boyd J, et al. Adult human mesenchymal stem cells delivered via intra-articular injection to the knee following partial medial meniscectomy. J Bone Joint Surg. 2014;96(2):90–8.
  14. Freitag, Julien, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis: reparative pathways, safety and efficacy–a review. BMC musculoskeletal disorders 17.1 (2016): 230.
  15. Maumus, Marie, Christian Jorgensen, and Danièle Noël. " Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine applied to rheumatic diseases: role of secretome and exosomes. " Biochimie 95.12 (2013): 2229-2234.
  16. Dostert, Gabriel, et al. " How do mesenchymal stem cells influence or are influenced by microenvironment through extracellular vesicles communication?. " Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 5 (2017).
  17. Chaparro, Orlando, and Itali Linero. " Regenerative Medicine: A New Paradigm in Bone Regeneration. " (2016).
  18. Toh, Wei Seong, et al. " MSC exosome as a cell-free MSC therapy for cartilage regeneration: Implications for osteoarthritis treatment. " Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. Academic Press, 2016.
  19. Chaparro, Orlando, and Itali Linero. " Regenerative Medicine: A New Paradigm in Bone Regeneration. " (2016).
  20. S. Koelling, J. Kruegel, M. Irmer, J.R. Path, B. Sadowski, X. Miro, et al., Migratory chondrogenic progenitor cells from repair tissue during the later stages of human osteoarthritis , Cell Stem Cell 4 (2009) 324–335.
  21. B.A. Jones, M. Pei, Synovium-Derived stem cells: a tissue-Specific stem cell for cartilage engineering and regeneration , Tissue Eng. B: Rev. 18 (2012) 301–311.
  22. W. Ando, J.J. Kutcher, R. Krawetz, A. Sen, N. Nakamura, C.B. Frank, et al., Clonal analysis of synovial fluid stem cells to characterize and identify stable mesenchymal stromal cell/mesenchymal progenitor cell phenotypes in a porcine model: a cell source with enhanced commitment to the chondrogenic lineage, Cytotherapy 16 (2014) 776–788.
  23. K.B.L. Lee, J.H.P. Hui, I.C. Song, L. Ardany, E.H. Lee, Injectable mesenchymal stem cell therapy for large cartilage defects—a porcine model, Stem Cells 25 (2007) 2964–2971.
  24. W.-L. Fu, C.-Y. Zhou, J.-K. Yu, A new source of mesenchymal stem cells for articular cartilage repair: mSCs derived from mobilized peripheral blood share similar biological characteristics in vitro and chondrogenesis in vivo as MSCs from bone marrow in a rabbit model , Am. J. Sports Med. 42 (2014) 592–601.
  25. X. Xie, Y. Wang, C. Zhao, S. Guo, S. Liu, W. Jia, et al., Comparative evaluation of MSCs from bone marrow and adipose tissue seeded in PRP-derived scaffold for cartilage regeneration , Biomaterials 33 (2012) 7008–7018.
  26. E.-R. Chiang, H.-L. Ma, J.-P. Wang, C.-L. Liu, T.-H. Chen, S.-C. Hung, Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells in combination with hyaluronic acid for the treatment of osteoarthritis in rabbits , PLoS One 11 (2016) e0149835.
  27. H. Nejadnik, J.H. Hui, E.P. Feng Choong, B.-C. Tai, E.H. Lee, Autologous bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells versus autologous chondrocyte implantation: an observational cohort study , Am. J. Sports Med. 38 (2010) 1110–1116.
  28. I. Sekiya, T. Muneta, M. Horie, H. Koga, Arthroscopic transplantation of synovial stem cells improves clinical outcomes in knees with cartilage defects , Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res. 473 (2015) 2316–2326.
  29. Y.S. Kim, Y.J. Choi, Y.G. Koh, Mesenchymal stem cell implantation in knee osteoarthritis: an assessment of the factors influencing clinical outcomes , Am. J. Sports Med. 43 (2015) 2293–2301.
  30. W.-L. Fu, Y.-F. Ao, X.-Y. Ke, Z.-Z. Zheng, X. Gong, D. Jiang, et al., Repair of large full-thickness cartilage defect by activating endogenous peripheral blood stem cells and autologous periosteum flap transplantation combined with patellofemoral realignment , Knee 21 (2014) 609–612.
  31. Y.-G. Koh, O.-R. Kwon, Y.-S. Kim, Y.-J. Choi, D.-H. Tak, Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with microfracture versus microfracture alone: 2-year follow-up of a prospective randomized trial , Arthrosc. J. Arthrosc. Relat. Surg. 32 (2016) 97–109.
  32. T.S. de Windt, L.A. Vonk, I.C.M. Slaper-Cortenbach, M.P.H. van den Broek, R. Nizak, M.H.P. van Rijen, et al., Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells stimulate cartilage regeneration and are safe for single-Stage cartilage repair in humans upon mixture with recycled autologous chondrons , Stem Cells (2016) (n/a-n/a).
  33. L. da Silva Meirelles, A.M. Fontes, D.T. Covas, A.I. Caplan, Mechanisms involved in the therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stem cells , Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 20 (2009) 419–427.
  34. W.S. Toh, C.B. Foldager, M. Pei, J.H.P. Hui, Advances in mesenchymal stem cell-based strategies for cartilage repair and regeneration , Stem Cell Rev. Rep. 10 (2014) 686–696.
  35. R.C. Lai, F. Arslan, M.M. Lee, N.S.K. Sze, A. Choo, T.S. Chen, et al., Exosome secreted by MSC reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury , Stem Cell Res. 4 (2010) 214–222.
  36. S. Zhang, W.C. Chu, R.C. Lai, S.K. Lim, J.H.P. Hui, W.S. Toh, Exosomes derived from human embryonic mesenchymal stem cells promote osteochondral regeneration, Osteoarthr . Cartil. 24 (2016) 2135–2140.
  37. S. Zhang, W. Chu, R. Lai, J. Hui, E. Lee, S. Lim, et al., 21 – human mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote orderly cartilage regeneration in an immunocompetent rat osteochondral defect model , Cytotherapy 18 (2016) S13.
  38. C.T. Lim, X. Ren, M.H. Afizah, S. Tarigan-Panjaitan, Z. Yang, Y. Wu, et al., Repair of osteochondral defects with rehydrated freeze-dried oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] hydrogels seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a porcine model
  39. A. Gobbi, G. Karnatzikos, S.R. Sankineani, One-step surgery with multipotent stem cells for the treatment of large full-thickness chondral defects of the knee , Am. J. Sports Med. 42 (2014) 648–657.
  40. A. Gobbi, C. Scotti, G. Karnatzikos, A. Mudhigere, M. Castro, G.M. Peretti, One-step surgery with multipotent stem cells and Hyaluronan-based scaffold for the treatment of full-thickness chondral defects of the knee in patients older than 45 years , Knee Surg. Sports Traumatol. Arthrosc. (2016) 1–8.
  41. A. Gobbi, G. Karnatzikos, C. Scotti, V. Mahajan, L. Mazzucco, B. Grigolo, One-step cartilage repair with bone marrow aspirate concentrated cells and collagen matrix in full-thickness knee cartilage lesions: results at 2-Year follow-up , Cartilage 2 (2011) 286–299.
  42. K.L. Wong, K.B.L. Lee, B.C. Tai, P. Law, E.H. Lee, J.H.P. Hui, Injectable cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in varus knees with cartilage defects undergoing high tibial osteotomy: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial with 2 years’ follow-up , Arthrosc. J. Arthrosc. Relat. Surg. 29 (2013) 2020–2028.
  43. J.M. Hare, J.E. Fishman, G. Gerstenblith, et al., Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the poseidon randomized trial, JAMA 308 (2012) 2369–2379.
  44. L. Wu, J.C.H. Leijten, N. Georgi, J.N. Post, C.A. van Blitterswijk, M. Karperien, Trophic effects of mesenchymal stem cells increase chondrocyte proliferation and matrix formation , Tissue Eng. A 17 (2011) 1425–1436.
  45. L. Wu, H.-J. Prins, M.N. Helder, C.A. van Blitterswijk, M. Karperien, Trophic effects of mesenchymal stem cells in chondrocyte Co-Cultures are independent of culture conditions and cell sources , Tissue Eng. A 18 (2012) 1542–1551.
  46. S.K. Sze, D.P.V. de Kleijn, R.C. Lai, E. Khia Way Tan, H. Zhao, K.S. Yeo, et al., Elucidating the secretion proteome of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells , Mol. Cell. Proteomics 6 (2007) 1680–1689.
  47. M.B. Murphy, K. Moncivais, A.I. Caplan, Mesenchymal stem cells: environmentally responsive therapeutics for regenerative medicine , Exp. Mol. Med. 45 (2013) e54.
  48. M.J. Lee, J. Kim, M.Y. Kim, Y.-S. Bae, S.H. Ryu, T.G. Lee, et al., Proteomic analysis of tumor necrosis factor--induced secretome of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells , J. Proteome Res. 9 (2010) 1754–1762.
  49. S. Bruno, C. Grange, M.C. Deregibus, R.A. Calogero, S. Saviozzi, F. Collino, et al., Mesenchymal stem cell-derived microvesicles protect against acute tubular injury, J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 20 (2009) 1053–1067.
  50. M. Yá˜nez-Mó, P.R.-M. Siljander, Z. Andreu, A.B. Zavec, F.E. Borràs, E.I. Buzas, et al. Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions (2015).
  51. C. Lawson, J.M. Vicencio, D.M. Yellon, S.M. Davidson, Microvesicles and exosomes: new players in metabolic and cardiovascular disease , J. Endocrinol. 228 (2016) R57–R71.
  52. A.G. Thompson, E. Gray, S.M. Heman-Ackah, I. Mager, K. Talbot, S.E. Andaloussi, et al., Extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative diseas—pathogenesis to biomarkers, Nat. Rev. Neurol. 12 (2016) 346–357.
  53. I.E.M. Bank, L. Timmers, C.M. Gijsberts, Y.-N. Zhang, A. Mosterd, J.-W. Wang, et al., The diagnostic and prognostic potential of plasma extracellular vesicles for cardiovascular disease , Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 15 (2015) 1577–1588.
  54. T. Kato, S. Miyaki, H. Ishitobi, Y. Nakamura, T. Nakasa, M.K. Lotz, et al., Exosomes from IL-1 stimulated synovial fibroblasts induce osteoarthritic changes in articular chondrocytes , Arthritis. Res. Ther. 16 (2014) 1–11.
  55. R.W.Y. Yeo, S.K. Lim, Exosomes and their therapeutic applications, in: C. Gunther, A. Hauser, R. Huss (Eds.), Advances in Pharmaceutical Cell TherapyPrinciples of Cell-Based Biopharmaceuticals, World Scientific, Singapore, 2015, pp. 477–491.
  56. X. Qi, J. Zhang, H. Yuan, Z. Xu, Q. Li, X. Niu, et al., Exosomes secreted by human-Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells repair critical-sized bone defects through enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis in osteoporotic rats , Int. J. Biol. Sci. 12 (2016) 836–849.
  57. R.C. Lai, F. Arslan, S.S. Tan, B. Tan, A. Choo, M.M. Lee, et al., Derivation and characterization of human fetal MSCs: an alternative cell source for large-scale production of cardioprotective microparticles , J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 48 (2010) 1215–1224.
  58. Y. Zhou, H. Xu, W. Xu, B. Wang, H. Wu, Y. Tao, et al., Exosomes released by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells protect against cisplatin-induced renal oxidative stress and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro , Stem Cell Res. Ther. 4 (2013) 1–13.
  59. Y. Qin, L. Wang, Z. Gao, G. Chen, C. Zhang, Bone marrow stromal/stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles regulate osteoblast activity and differentiation in vitro and promote bone regeneration in vivo , Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 21961.
  60. M. Nakano, K. Nagaishi, N. Konari, Y. Saito, T. Chikenji, Y. Mizue, et al., Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve diabetes-induced cognitive impairment by exosome transfer into damaged neurons and astrocytes , Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 24805.
  61. K. Nagaishi, Y. Mizue, T. Chikenji, M. Otani, M. Nakano, N. Konari, et al., Mesenchymal stem cell therapy ameliorates diabetic nephropathy via the paracrine effect of renal trophic factors including exosomes , Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 34842.
  62. S.R. Baglio, K. Rooijers, D. Koppers-Lalic, F.J. Verweij, M. Pérez Lanzón, N. Zini, et al., Human bone marrow- and adipose-mesenchymal stem cells secrete exosomes enriched in distinctive miRNA and tRNA species , Stem Cell Res. Ther. 6 (2015) 1–20.
  63. T. Chen, R. Yeo, F. Arslan, Y. Yin, S. Tan, Efficiency of exosome production correlates inversely with the developmental maturity of MSC donor, J. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 3 (2013) 2.
  64. R.C. Lai, S.S. Tan, B.J. Teh, S.K. Sze, F. Arslan, D.P. de Kleijn, et al., Proteolytic potential of the MSC exosome proteome: implications for an exosome-mediated delivery of therapeutic proteasome , Int. J. Proteomics 2012 (2012) 971907.
  65. T.S. Chen, R.C. Lai, M.M. Lee, A.B.H. Choo, C.N. Lee, S.K. Lim, Mesenchymal stem cell secretes microparticles enriched in pre-microRNAs , Nucleic Acids Res. 38 (2010) 215–224.
  66. R.W. Yeo, R.C. Lai, K.H. Tan, S.K. Lim, Exosome: a novel and safer therapeutic refinement of mesenchymal stem cell, J. Circ. Biomark. 1 (2013) 7.
  67. R.C. Lai, R.W. Yeo, S.K. Lim, Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes, Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 40 (2015) 82–88.
  68. B. Zhang, R.W. Yeo, K.H. Tan, S.K. Lim, Focus on extracellular vesicles: therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles , Int. J. Mol. Sci. 17 (2016) 174.
  69. Hu G-w, Q. Li, X. Niu, B. Hu, J. Liu, Zhou S-m, et al., Exosomes secreted by human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate limb ischemia by promoting angiogenesis in mice , Stem Cell Res. Ther. 6 (2015) 1–15.
  70. J. Zhang, J. Guan, X. Niu, G. Hu, S. Guo, Q. Li, et al., Exosomes released from human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived MSCs facilitate cutaneous wound healing by promoting collagen synthesis and angiogenesis , J. Transl. Med. 13 (2015) 1–14.
  71. B. Zhang, M. Wang, A. Gong, X. Zhang, X. Wu, Y. Zhu, et al., HucMSC-exosome mediated-Wnt4 signaling is required for cutaneous wound healing, Stem Cells 33 (2015) 2158–2168.
  72. B. Zhang, Y. Yin, R.C. Lai, S.S. Tan, A.B.H. Choo, S.K. Lim, Mesenchymal stem cells secrete immunologically active exosomes , Stem Cells Dev. 23 (2013) 1233–1244.
  73. C.Y. Tan, R.C. Lai, W. Wong, Y.Y. Dan, S.-K. Lim, H.K. Ho, Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote hepatic regeneration in drug-induced liver injury models , Stem Cell Res. Ther. 5 (2014) 1–14.
  74. C. Lee, S.A. Mitsialis, M. Aslam, S.H. Vitali, E. Vergadi, G. Konstantinou, et al., Exosomes mediate the cytoprotective action of mesenchymal stromal cells on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension , Circulation 126 (2012) 2601–2611.
  75. B. Yu, H. Shao, C. Su, Y. Jiang, X. Chen, L. Bai, et al., Exosomes derived from MSCs ameliorate retinal laser injury partially by inhibition of MCP-1 , Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 34562.
  76. Jo CH, Lee YG, Shin WH, et al. Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a proof of concept clinical trial. Stem Cells. 2014;32(5):1254–66.
  77. Vega, Aurelio, et al. Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells: a randomized controlled trial. Transplantation. 2015;99(8):1681–90.
  78. Davatchi F, Sadeghi-Abdollahi B, Mohyeddin M, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Preliminary report of four patients. Int J Rheum Dis. 2011;14(2):211–5
  79. Hernigou P, Flouzat Lachaniette CH, Delambre J, et al. Biologic augmentation of rotator cuff repair with mesenchymal stem cells during arthroscopy improves healing and prevents further tears: a case- controlled study. Int Orthop. 2014;38(9):1811–1818
  80. Galli D, Vitale M, Vaccarezza M. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cell differentiation toward myogenic lineages: facts and perspectives. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:6.
  81. Beitzel K, Solovyova O, Cote MP, et al. The future role of mesenchymal Stem cells in The management of shoulder disorders . Arthroscopy. 2013;29(10):1702–1711.
  82. Isaac C, Gharaibeh B, Witt M, Wright VJ, Huard J. Biologic approaches to enhance rotator cuff healing after injury. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(2):181–190.
  83. Malda, Jos, et al. " Extracellular vesicles [mdash] new tool for joint repair and regeneration. " Nature Reviews Rheumatology (2016).

  1. Xu, Ming, et al. " Transplanted senescent cells induce an osteoarthritis-like condition in mice. " The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences (2016): glw154.
  2. McCulloch, Kendal, Gary J. Litherland, and Taranjit Singh Rai. " Cellular senescence in osteoarthritis pathology ." Aging Cell (2017).

Patient Services at ANOVA Institute for Regenerative Medicine

  • Located in the center of Germany, quick access by car or train from anywhere in Europe
  • Simple access worldwide, less than 20 minutes from Frankfurt Airport
  • Individualized therapy with state-of-the-art stem cell products
  • Individually planned diagnostic work-up which include world-class MRI and CT scans
  • German high quality standard on safety and quality assurance
  • Personal service with friendly, dedicated Patient Care Managers
  • Scientific collaborations with academic institutions to assure you the latest regenerative medical programs