Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosome on the Retinopathy of Prematurity Publisher Pubmed



Namakin K ; Mostafaei M ; Behboodi S ; Dolikhani M ; Boroujerdi T ; Araghi AS ; Masoumi A ; Zolbin MM
Source: Experimental Eye Research Published:2026

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of childhood blindness caused by insufficient vascularization of the peripheral retina, which eventually leads to retinal ischemia. In the ischemic state, pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-b), and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) are excessively produced leading to pathological neovascularization. One of the current approaches in regenerative medicine is exosomes, derived from mesenchymal stem cell have shown promise as potential anti-angiogenic agents in various ocular diseases, including macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, autoimmune uveitis (AU), optic nerve crush (ONC), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In this narrative review, we aimed to consolidate the current literature on exosomes as a therapeutic strategy for ROP with a brief overview of the applied exosome and available sources and mechanism of action. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd