A group from Tokyo Medical University examined 12 exosome products used for self-funded treatment in medical clinics, etc., and found that three of them could not be confirmed to contain exosomes, very small particles secreted by cells that are increasingly used for cosmetic purposes. The group pointed out that "manufacturers should produce correct exosome products."

The survey was conducted by a group including Takahiro Ochiya, president of the JSEV, a group of exosome researchers and others, and a specially appointed professor at Tokyo Medical University.

Exosomes are tiny capsule-like particles secreted by cells that are expected to promote tissue regeneration, and in recent years they are increasingly used for cosmetic purposes.

The group examined 12 exosome products used for self-funded treatment in medical clinics, etc. and other facilities that were available by March of this year for reactions to two types of proteins unique to exosomes.

The results show that three of the items did not show any protein response and could not be confirmed to contain exosomes.

For the other nine products, there was a protein response, but there were large differences among the products, suggesting that the amount of exosomes contained in the products varied widely.

Last year, the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine published a proposal that the manufacturing process of exosomes should be subject to some kind of regulation in the future, because of the growing use of exosomes in self-funded medical treatment.

Professor Ochiya said, "There are products that do not contain exosomes at all, and I was surprised and bewildered by the analysis results. Manufacturers should produce correct and safe exosomes."

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