Can mesenchymal stem cells be used to treat COVID‑19‑induced pneumonia? (Review)

Abstract

The novel severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which has resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, infection by which is commonly characterized by a sore throat, fever and cough, was first reported in Wuhan, China on 31st December 2019. This novel disease is mild in certain individuals, usually younger healthy individuals, whereas the elder and those with underlying health conditions develop severe symptoms and may die as a result of the disease or associated complications. Along with pneumonia, hypercytokinemia, also termed a cytokine storm, is one of the most common pathologies observed in patients with COVID-19. As patients react to the infection with the virus differently; in certain individuals, a cytokine storm may result in death. At present, there is no cure or widely available vaccine for the novel coronavirus. However, it has been hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells may assist in the treatment/management of the cytokine storm due to their immunomodulating properties. Contents 1. Introduction 2. COVID-19-induced pneumonia 3. Cytokine storm 4. MSCs 5. Conclusions

Potential of Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hWJMSCs) Secretome for COVID-19 Adjuvant Therapy Candidate

“…The MSCs support hematopoiesis and immuno-modulatory properties. The migration of MSCs is mediated by growth factors, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and toll-like receptors [22]. The MSCs secrete low molecular weight proteins in the form of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) to fight infections like viruses, bacteria, and fungus [21,23].…”