Research Progress on the Role of Milk-Derived Exosomes in Regulating Intestinal Physiological Functions

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) with a diameter of 30-150 nm. They are widely involved in intercellular communication and disease diagnosis, and can serve as drug delivery carriers for targeted disease treatment. Due to the lack of sufficient sources and methods to obtain exosomes, their therapeutic application as drug carriers is limited. Milk contains abundant exosomes. Multiple studies have shown that milk-derived exosomes play a crucial role in preventing and treating intestinal diseases. This article reviews the extraction and identification methods of milk-derived exosomes reported in the literature. It also discusses the role of milk-derived exosomes in regulating intestinal physiological functions by protecting the intestinal barrier, alleviating intestinal inflammation, regulating the intestinal microbiota, and promoting intestinal cell proliferation. Milk-derived exosomes have various advantages such as no adverse immune reactions or inflammatory reactions. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of milk-derived exosomes on intestinal physiological functions can help further study their role in preventing and treating intestinal diseases.