A novel therapeutic approach for allergic rhinitis by exosome-mimetic nanovesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells to restore nasal mucosal epithelial barrier

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the airways worldwide. Nasal epithelial cells (NEpCs) are the first line of defence against invading pathogens in the respiratory tract by providing both physical and immunological barrier. Accumulated evidence points to disruption of the tight junctions between epithelial cells and secretion of cytokines as critical factors necessary for the initiation and development of AR. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are derived from the mesoderm during early development, and they secrete various biologically active components showing multiple roles such as immunomodulation, mitigation of inflammation and tissue regeneration. It has been proven that MSC-derived exosomemimetic nanovesicles (MSC-NVs) play similar functional roles to MSCs. We envision that MSC-NVs can restore the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier, improve the immune balance and treat AR by maintaining the integrity of the mucosal epithelial structure and regulating the level of epithelial-derived cytokines.