Exosomes are tiny particles that cells release to carry signals to other cells. Nearly every kind of cell in the body makes them. When a wellness center offers exosome therapy, the useful question is not whether exosomes exist, but where this particular product came from.
This article explains the source, the screening and the questions worth asking.
Exosomes start inside cells
A cell packages small amounts of material into a particle and releases it. Another cell picks the particle up and responds to the signal inside. Researchers study this cell-to-cell messaging in many settings, and our overview of what exosome therapy is covers the basics.
Because many kinds of cells release exosomes, an exosome product is defined by its source cell. Two products can both be called exosomes and come from entirely different places. That is why sourcing is the first thing to ask about.
Where GIOSTAR exosomes come from
The exosomes at GIOSTAR come from mesenchymal stem cells from screened donors. Four points describe the path.
- Donor stem cells. The exosomes come from mesenchymal stem cells taken from donated tissue.
- Donors screened. GIOSTAR screens every donor before using any tissue.
- No living cells. The exosomes in your IV carry no living cells.
- Sterile IV. A sterile salt-water fluid carries the exosomes in, and your nurse practitioner places the IV.
Because the exosomes come from donor stem cells, nothing is collected from your body. There is no harvest procedure and no second procedure site.
What mesenchymal stem cells are
Mesenchymal stem cells are a type of stem cell that releases signaling molecules the cells around them respond to. Stem cells in general are the body's unspecialized cells, able to make copies of themselves and to produce specialized cells. Our guides to what stem cells are and what mesenchymal stem cells are go deeper.
Mesenchymal stem cells are the source cells behind GIOSTAR exosome therapy. They are also the cells in GIOSTAR stem cell therapy, which is a separate service where the cells themselves are given.
Why donor screening matters for exosome therapy
Donor material passes through several hands before it reaches a treatment room, so the checks along the way carry weight. Screening and testing happen before any tissue goes into use. Ask any provider to describe their process in plain words, and to say who is responsible for it.
At GIOSTAR, we screen every donor before using any tissue. For the stem cells themselves, we can also tell you more: they are ethically sourced mesenchymal stem cells from screened donors, from tissue donated after healthy, full-term births, with the mother's consent. We use no embryos, and no harm comes to mother or baby. Read where stem cells come from and how donors are screened.
Exosomes from your own cells and from donors
Two broad routes exist for any regenerative material: your own, or a donor's. Your own cells need a collection procedure. Donor material does not.
GIOSTAR uses donor-derived exosomes, so the route has no collection step. The IV is the only needle you see on treatment day.
How the exosomes reach you
At our Henderson wellness center, a nurse practitioner places a small IV in your arm. The exosomes run in over 30 to 60 minutes while you sit in a recliner in a private treatment room. You go home the same day.
Most people describe a needle stick and brief pressure. Our post on how exosome therapy is given walks through the whole visit.
Questions to ask about exosome sourcing
Whichever provider you consider, ask:
- What cell do the exosomes come from?
- Do they come from donors or from my own body?
- How are donors screened?
- What documentation comes with each lot?
- Do the exosomes carry any living cells?
Our guide to what to ask about an exosome product expands each question.
What decides the exosome therapy total and when you know
The total depends on which option you choose, Exosome Wellness or Exosome High-Dose, and whether you repeat a dose. Your nurse practitioner gives you the full total at your free consultation, before you book anything.
A note on exosome language
You will see exosomes described in different ways across the internet. Some pages describe them in laboratory terms, and others in marketing terms. For a decision about your own care, the simple questions matter most: what is the source, who screened it, what is in the IV and who gives it. Those four questions cut through the vocabulary.
At GIOSTAR, our team answers all four in plain words at your free consultation, and you can call 702.703.5393 to ask before you book.
Next step for exosome therapy
If sourcing is your main question, say so when you call. Our patient team starts the free consultation there, and your nurse practitioner covers the rest at your in-person visit in Henderson.
Exosome therapy at GIOSTAR in Henderson
GIOSTAR stands for Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research. Founded by Dr. Anand Srivastava, GIOSTAR International is part of a network across three countries, built on research at Salk, UC San Diego, UC Irvine and UCLA. Dr. Ryan Peterson, our Medical Director, oversees care at our Henderson wellness center, now open at 2482 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100.
Your first step is a free consultation, online, by phone or in person. Learn more about exosome therapy at GIOSTAR or call 702.703.5393.
