Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41462890›Full record

ReviewBiomedicines2025

Novel Translational Concept: Axon-to-Muscle Exosomal Signaling as an Emerging Therapeutic Target in Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Almir Fajkić, Andrej Belančić, Yun Wah Lam, Valentino Rački, Kristina Pilipović, Tamara Janković, Silvestar Mežnarić, Jasenka Mršić-Pelčić, Dinko Vitezić

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biomedicines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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.

Almir FajkićDepartment of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.ORCID 0000-0002-3722-9701
Andrej BelančićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-7848-6600
Yun Wah LamDepartment of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8929-5965
Valentino RačkiDepartment of Neurology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Kresimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0003-3246-0506
Kristina PilipovićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-7129-1621
Tamara JankovićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-6203-2858
Silvestar MežnarićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-5107-3670
Jasenka Mršić-PelčićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-6313-9232
Dinko VitezićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-6295-6580

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has transitioned from a uniformly fatal disease to a treatable condition, yet incomplete neuromuscular recovery underscores the limits of current SMN-restorative therapies. Emerging data implicate disrupted axon-to-muscle exosomal signaling as an important, overlooked driver of residual dysfunction. Exosomes, nanovesicles mediating bidirectional neuronal-muscular communication, carry synaptic organizers, trophic factors, and microRNAs essential for neuromuscular junction integrity. SMN deficiency alters exosomal biogenesis and cargo, leading to loss of agrin-MuSK signaling, impaired β-actin transport, and muscle atrophy. Comparative insights from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscular dystrophy reveal that stem-cell-derived or engineered exosomes restore synaptic stability, enhance regeneration, and cross biological barriers safely. Thus, we speculate herein on a translational model integrating exosome-based therapies with existing genetic interventions to achieve durable, systems-level recovery in SMA. Exosomal profiling may further yield minimally invasive biomarkers for disease monitoring and treatment optimization, establishing vesicle-mediated communication as a novel therapeutic axis in neuromuscular medicine.

Indexed as

axon-to-muscle signalingexosomesneuromuscular junctionspinal muscular atrophytranslational therapy

Identifiers

PMID41462890
PMCPMC12730364

What OpenQuestion holds

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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 OpenQuestion graph.