title: Pharmacokinetics of Exosomes-An Important Factor for Elucidating the Biological Roles of Exosomes and for the Development of Exosome-Based Therapeutics.
abstract: Exosomes are small membrane vesicles containing lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Recently, researchers have uncovered that exosomes are involved in various biological events, such as tumor growth, metastasis, and the immune response, by delivering their cargos to exosome-receiving cells. Moreover, exosomes are expected to be used in therapeutic treatments, such as tissue regeneration therapy and antitumor immunotherapy, because exosomes are effective delivery vehicles for proteins, nucleic acids, and other bioactive compounds. To elucidate the biological functions of exosomes, and for the development of exosome-based therapeutics, the pharmacokinetics of exosomes is important. In this review, we aim to summarize current knowledge about the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of exosomes. The pharmacokinetics of exogenously administered exosomes is discussed based on the tissue distribution, types of cells taking up exosomes, and key molecules in the pharmacokinetics of exosomes. In addition, recent progress in the methods to control the pharmacokinetics of exosomes is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: ytakahashi@pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takakura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: biological functions; exosomes; pharmacokinetics; therapeutics