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Abstract
Since the introduction of cell therapy as a strategy for the treatment of many diseases,
mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as ideal candidates, yet the underlying mechanisms
of their beneficial effects are only partially understood. At the start of the 21st
century, a paracrine effect was proposed as a mechanism of tissue repair by these
cells. In addition, a role was suggested for a heterogeneous population of extracellular
vesicles in cell-to-cell communication. Some of these vesicles including exosomes
have been isolated from most fluids and cells, as well as from supernatants of in
vitro cell cultures. Recent research in the field of regenerative medicine suggests
that exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells could be a powerful new therapeutic
tool. This review examines the therapeutic potential of these exosomes obtained from
the sources most used in cell therapy: bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical
cord.