Exosomes in inflammatory tissue injury: key pathogenic factors and promising therapeutic agents

Inflammation is an essential host defense mechanism but, when excessive or chronic, can cause severe tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Exosomes, a key subtype of extracellular vesicles, have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular communication by transferring bioactive cargo and modulating inflammatory signaling. This review summarizes the roles of exosomes in inflammation-associated tissue injury, focusing on their regulation of classical inflammatory pathways and programmed cell death. We further discuss the dual functions of exosomes as pathogenic mediators and therapeutic agents, highlighting their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.