Grant Award Details
This project will determine the effectiveness of a potentially transformational stem cell based therapy—human stem cell derived exosomes—to ameliorate the neuropathologies associated with AD.
Progress Reports
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Grant Application Details
- An exosome-based translational strategy to mitigate Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology
Research Objective
These studies will determine whether stem cell derived exosomes (nano-scale vesicles) can be used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Impact
Our stem cell-derived exosome therapy will provide a viable approach to ameliorate the relentless progression of AD that severely impacts quality of life for millions of patients and their families.
Major Proposed Activities
- Evaluate whether exosome therapy can reduce the symptoms of early stage AD including anxiety, depression, and learning and memory.
- Evaluate whether exosome therapy can reduce the symptoms of advanced stage AD including anxiety, depression, and learning and memory.
- Determine whether exosome therapy can slow the appearance of AD related changes typically observed in the early stage AD brain.
- Determine whether exosome therapy can reduce the appearance of AD related changes typically observed in the advanced stage AD brain.
In the US, California has the most cases of AD, a burden on patients, their families, and the health care system. As such, AD is an unmet medical need that requires new therapies to improve disease management. This project tests a transformational idea—human stem cell derived exosome therapy. These studies will identify a novel stem cell-based strategy and a viable approach to impede the progression of AD and it’s symptoms that severely impact quality of life for patients and their families.
Publications
- Nutrients (2021) Upregulation of Vitamin C Transporter Functional Expression in 5xFAD Mouse Intestine. (PubMed: 33672967)
- Alzheimers Res Ther (2021) Human neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles mitigate hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. (PubMed: 33676561)
- J Neuroimmune Pharmacol (2020) Immune and Inflammatory Determinants Underlying Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. (PubMed: 32090272)
- Int J Radiat Biol (2018) miRNA-based therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: a safe cell-free treatment to ameliorate radiation-induced brain injury. (PubMed: 30252569)