Evidence mapPaperPMID 41808019Full record

SynthesisBMC ophthalmology2026

Harnessing exosomes in dry eye disease: a triple threat approach.

Jiaping Song, Xinyan Yi, Zhongliang Geng, Jun Tian, Tingting Wang, Xiaohai Song, Shaokang Ma, Hongwei Li, Yongcheng Xu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jiaping SongDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Xinyan YiDepartment of Hygienic Inspection and Quality Management Department, Ganjingzi District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Dalian, Liaoning, 116031, China.
Zhongliang GengDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian, Liaoning, 116091, China.
Jun TianDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Tingting WangDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Xiaohai SongDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Shaokang MaDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Hongwei LiDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.
Yongcheng XuDepartment of Clinical Medical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, NO.40, Qianshan Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China. sysh0411@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDry eye disease is a chronic ocular surface disorder primarily driven by tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, which propagates inflammatory cascades leading to ocular tissue damage. Exosomes facilitate the transfer of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids between donor and recipient cells, mediating the exchange of bioactive molecules. These vesicles demonstrate transformative potential as carriers of bioactive molecules, drug delivery vehicles, and disease biomarkers. Although exosome research in posterior segment eye diseases is extensive, studies investigating their triple functionality—therapeutic agent, drug delivery vehicle, and biomarker—in the context of dry eye remain limited and fragmented.

methodsThe literature search of the PubMed database (2015–2025) was conducted using keywords related to “exosomes,” “extracellular vesicles,” “dry eye,” and their therapeutic, drug delivery, and biomarker applications, with eligible studies screened and selected according to predefined criteria.

resultsWe found the multifaceted roles of exosomes in dry eye as integrated therapeutic, delivery, and diagnostic agents. We emphasize: (1) their multimodal efficacy through mechanisms such as immunomodulation, corneal repair, and neuroinflammation suppression; (2) superior drug delivery capabilities, including enhanced stability and miRNA-mediated anti-inflammatory targeting; and (3) diagnostic utility via tear- or saliva-based biomarkers for quantifying dry eye progression. Finally, we discuss current challenges in translating exosome-based strategies into clinical practice and explore future directions for advancing cell-free therapies in ophthalmology.

conclusionExosomes have emerged as transformative agents in dry eye disease management by functioning as innate immunomodulators and mediators of adaptive immune responses, while simultaneously serving as versatile therapeutic vectors, drug delivery vehicles, and precision biomarkers. While challenges such as manufacturing scalability and regulatory standardization remain to be fully addressed, exosomes unequivocally represent a paradigm shift toward precision medicine for dry eye disease.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesExosomesBiomarkersDrug Delivery SystemsHumansBiomarkersBiomarkerDrug carriersDry eyeExosomesTherapeutic agents

Identifiers

PMID41808019
PMCPMC13088860

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.