1Administer stem cells
Stem cells obtained from fat or bone marrow are administered in a way suited to the treatment goal.
Adipose stem cells and exosomes.
Know the differences. Make an informed choice.
Using your own cells is one part of the decision. Understanding what you receive is another.
Explore how each approach works, how quality is assessed and what to ask before treatment.
01／06
How stem cell therapy works
One key to understanding treatment: the substances cells release
Stem cells play a role in maintaining and repairing tissue. Alongside their potential to replace tissue, researchers are studying how the substances they release interact with surrounding cells.
2Cells release signaling substances
ExosomesInformation-carrying vesiclesCytokinesCommunication between cellsGrowth factorsAssociated with growth and repair
Cells release many substances, including exosomes, cytokines and growth factors.
3These interact with surrounding cells
Interactions with immune, vascular and nerve cells are studied for their roles in repair and inflammation.
Functions being
studied
Involvement in inflammation
Involvement in tissue repair
Involvement in angiogenesis
Involvement in immune regulation
Involvement in cell survival
Understanding treatment means considering
which cells are administered, and
what those cells release.
Examining released substances and their functions is one way to understand treatment differences.
These diagrams illustrate possible mechanisms. Findings from research do not guarantee individual treatment outcomes.
02／06
Your own cells can still vary in condition
The source cells help determine what their exosomes contain
Source cells are the cells that produce and release exosomes.
Autologous stem cell therapy uses your own cells. However, the composition and activity of their EVs can vary with source cell condition and culture conditions. How quality is assessed matters alongside the source.
Cells with preserved basic function
These cells are alive and retain basic functions such as the ability to grow. Testing and checks during cell culture assess their function and signs of aging or stress.
- Alive and functioning
- Growth and other functions are assessed
- Checked for signs of aging and stress
Information associated with tissue repair
Information associated with inflammation and immunity
A range of molecular components
Cells affected by aging or stress
Aging, inflammation or oxidative stress may affect how these cells grow and alter the substances they release.
- Cellular aging has progressed
- Growth and other functions have declined
- Inflammatory or oxidative stress
- Culture conditions also affect cell condition
Composition and activity may change
Associations with inflammation and aging
Associations with fibrosis
Using your own cells is not, by itself, a guarantee of safety.
Cell condition and quality checks also matter.
These illustrations are conceptual. Age or medical history alone cannot determine cell quality or whether treatment is suitable for you.
03／06
Considering adipose stem cell therapy? What to know
Understand the collection process, cell culture, treatment and safety checks
Collecting cells from your own fat, culturing them and returning them to the body requires preparation and quality assessment. Here are points to check when considering treatment.
1 — Cell condition varies between individuals
Cell characteristics vary with age, health and culture conditions. Ask how cell number, viability and quality are assessed after collection.
2 — Harvesting and culture are required
Check risks such as pain, bleeding and infection during collection, culture duration, quality control before administration and the schedule for ongoing treatment.
3 — Intravenous administration requires safety assessment
For intravenous cell administration, retention in small lung vessels and effects on coagulation are considerations. Assessment must reflect the method, cell number, rate and patient condition.
A case of sudden deterioration and death during adipose-derived stem cell administration has been reported in Japan.
4 — Source alone does not determine efficacy or safety
Whether using your own cells or preparations from another source, check quality, administration methods and evidence relevant to the treatment goal.
Clinical evidence for the treatment goal
Quality management and infection control
Adverse effect information and emergency response
04／06
How g-lab assesses its EV preparation
Assessing the amount, composition and proportions of BM-MSC-derived EVs
BM-MSC means bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. EV is the collective term for extracellular vesicles; exosomes are one type. Source, particle count, molecular contents and analysis methods form the basis for understanding the preparation.
1 — What do you receive?
Cell therapy and treatment using cell-released components differ in what is administered and what should be checked.
2 — Check the preparation before treatment
Check the source
Which cells produced the preparation?
Check particle count
How much is present?
Check miRNA contents
What information is present?
Explore associations through IPA
Which biological functions are associated?
3｜Beyond particle counts: contents and proportions
Total particle count
2.62 trillion／vial
2.62 × 1012 particles
Tumor suppression–associatedmiRNA
88%Tumor Suppressor miRNA
These are results for the analyzed lot. The 88% is normalized by expression level within the classified subset of the top-100 miRNAs (about 53% of the total). Particle counts and proportions alone do not establish clinical efficacy or safety; 88% is not a cancer prevention or treatment success rate.
4 — Explore associated functions
IPA analysis
miRNA Profile
Cell repair
Inflammation
Immunity
Blood vessels
Nerves
Hormones
Reproductive function
Cancer-related
Literature and databases are used to explore functions associated with the miRNAs present.
Understanding a preparation through analysis
is different from demonstrating treatment efficacy and safety.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has cautioned that exosome reagents have not been confirmed for quality, efficacy and safety when used for treatment. Confirm approval status and quality documents for the actual preparation during consultation.Japan Ministry of Health notice, 31 July 2024 ↗
05／06
IPA: putting miRNA findings in context
Exploring links between miRNAs and biological functions
IPA (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) compares molecular information with literature and databases to explore associations with biological pathways and functions.
1Examine miRNA
Identify which miRNAs are present and their relative proportions.
Examples of miRNAsmiR-21-5pmiR-126-3pmiR-181c-5pmiR-199a-3pmiR-146a-5p
These are general examples, not analysis results for the specific preparation.
2IPA analysis
Explore which functions are associated with that information.
IPAIngenuity Pathway Analysis
Distinguish experimentally confirmed relationships from predicted relationships and evaluate the evidence accordingly.
3What the analysis can tell you
Look beyond the numbers to the biological functions they may be linked to.
Cell repair
Inflammation
Immunity
Blood vessels
Nerves
Hormones
Reproductive function
Cancer-related
An association with a category does not establish a treatment effect in that category.
A single miRNA does not tell the whole story.
What matters is considering the whole preparation and the evidence behind the reported associations.
1
Which bodily functions are associated?
2
Preparation characteristics and balance
3
Potentially favorable associations and those that warrant caution
06／06
Side-by-side comparison
Understand what you receive before you decide
Stem cell and EV treatments have different characteristics. Consider your goals, suitability, quality, clinical evidence and risks with your doctor rather than judging by the source alone.
Autologous adipose stem cell therapy
Treatment using your own cells
BM-MSC-derived EVs
Treatment using components released by cells
Collect cells
Cells are collected from your own fat.
Check the source
Check which cells produced the EVs.
Culture cells
Culture and quality checks are performed to obtain the required number of cells.
A prepared EV formulation
An EV preparation that has been manufactured and quality-checked is used.
What you receive
Living cells themselves. Substances released by cells also contribute to their action.
What you receive
EVs and other components released by cells, rather than living stem cells themselves.
How quality is assessed
Examine cell condition, culture conditions and administration methods.
Check the contents
Examine source, particle count, miRNA composition and analysis methods.
Points to understand
- Burden and risks of harvesting
- Time for culture and quality assessment
- Individual differences in cell condition
- Safety evaluation for the administration method
Points to understand
- Source, purification and quality control methods
- Counts and proportions alone do not determine efficacy
- Distinguish analysis results from clinical evidence
- Check approval status and risk explanations
An informed choice starts with understanding what you will receive, what has been assessed, and
what remains uncertain about the treatment.
Know your options.
Plan for your future health.
Discuss options with your doctor according to your goals and condition.
Talk through the differences with your doctor.
Tell us your goals, treatment history and preferences.
Request an initial consultation →Back to exosome treatment →References and about this page
This page is intended to help you understand your treatment options. The diagrams are conceptual and do not guarantee individual outcomes or safety. Discuss privately funded treatment costs, risks and any unapproved preparations during your consultation.