An exosome-based therapeutic approach against chronic inflammation

DNA damage triggers the activation of innate immune signaling leading to chronic inflammation and the premature onset of e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders in man.

Based on our ERC consolidator program DeFiNER, we recently discovered that persistent DNA damage triggers the innate immune system stimulating broad inflammatory and antiviral immune countermeasures that lead to chronic inflammation and the premature onset of severe metabolic complications and neurodegeneration in mice.

Here, we propose a sophisticated a therapeutic anti-inflammatory strategy aimed at lowering chronic inflammation in preclinical animal models with pronounced metabolic diseases or neurodegeneration.

Unlike available anti-inflammatory therapies, the proposed therapeutic approach is non-immunogenic, allows the therapeutic cargo to circulate for extended periods within the body and to cross the blood brain barrier with no biocompatibility complications and minimal to no inherent toxicity issues in mice.

This novel strategy provides, therefore, the means towards an innovative medicine that will effectively address real but unmet therapeutic needs for a wide range of devastating diseases associated with chronic inflammation.