Use of exosomes to promote or enhance hair growth

Abstract

We describe the use of an exosome for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition to promote or enhance would healing or hair growth, or both, in an individual. The exosome may be derived from a stem cell such as a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of promoting or enhancing hair growth or re-growth, the method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an exosome derived from a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the individual has a condition selected from the group consisting of: hair loss, sparse hair growth, short hair growth, thin hair growth, partial or complete hair loss on the scalp, alopecia, androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, non-androgenic alopecia, alopecia greata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, radiation induced alopecia, alopecia due to radiotherapy, drug induced alopecia, alopecia due to chemotherapy, traumatic alopecia, scarring alopecia, psychogenic alopecia, stress related alopecia or anagen effluvium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the pharmaceutical composition comprises a dermatological formulation comprising a dermatologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the pharmaceutical composition is subcutaneously injected or applied topically. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the pharmaceutical composition comprises 40 μg/ml or less of exosome. 
     
     
         21 . A method of promoting wound healing, the method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an exosome derived from a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the pharmaceutical composition comprises a dermatological formulation comprising a dermatologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the pharmaceutical composition is subcutaneously injected or applied topically. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the composition administered reduces the mean time for complete wound closure in a test animal to which it is administered to 90% or less of the mean time taken for complete wound closure in a test animal to which the pharmaceutical composition is not administered. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the test animal or group of test animals comprise(s) a C57BL/6J female mouse and the wound comprises a biopsy punch of 177 mm 2  (15-mm diameter wound). 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition administered to the test animal contains 10 μg or less of the exosome. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the pharmaceutical composition comprises 40 μg/ml or less of exosome. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the exosome:
 (a) has a size of between 50 nm and 100 nm as determined by electron microscopy;   (b) comprises a complex of molecular weight >100 kDa, comprising proteins of <100 kDa;   (c) comprises a complex of molecular weight >300 kDa, comprising proteins of <300 kDa;   (d) comprises a complex of molecular weight >1000 kDa;   (e) has a size of between 2 nm and 200 nm, as determined by filtration against a 0.2 μM filter and concentration against a membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa; or   (f) a hydrodynamic radius of below 100 nm, as determined by laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the exosome:
 (a) has a size of between 50 nm and 100 nm as determined by electron microscopy;   (b) comprises a complex of molecular weight >100 kDa, comprising proteins of <100 kDa;   (c) comprises a complex of molecular weight >300 kDa, comprising proteins of <300 kDa;   (d) comprises a complex of molecular weight >1000 kDa;   (e) has a size of between 2 nm and 200 nm, as determined by filtration against a 0.2 μM filter and concentration against a membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa; or   (f) a hydrodynamic radius of below 100 nm, as determined by laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering.