Mesenchymal stem cells: a new front emerges in coronavirus disease 2019 treatment

Abstract

Currently, treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) patients, particularly those afflicted with severe pneumonia, is challenging, as no effective pharmacotherapy for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exists. Severe pneumonia is recognized as a clinical syndrome, characterized by hyper induction of proinflammatory cytokine production, which can induce organ damage followed by edema, dysfunction of air exchange, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac injury, secondary infection, and increased mortality. Owing to the immunoregulatory and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), we aimed to outline current insights into the clinical application of MSCs in the patients of COVID19. Based on results from preliminary clinical investigations, one predicts that MSCs therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is safe and effective although multiple clinical trials with a protracted follow-up will be necessary to determine the long term effects of the treatment on COVID19 patients.

Development of Multilayer Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cell Sheets

“…Many clinical trials are conducted over the world to treat inflammation with MSCs, but there is only one stem cell therapy approved in the USA, by the FDA, to treat patients having blood production problems. For the past year, recent studies have been working and testing on using MSCs for COVID-19 treatment, based on MSC/MSC extracellular vesicles antiinflammatory properties [154][155][156]. However, in other cases, the inflammatory reaction could decrease the efficacy of the MSC treatment.…”

Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Gene Delivery Tool: Promise, Problems, and Prospects

“…In quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MSCs are being utilized in several clinical trials studying SARS-COV2-induced pneumonia [106]. For instance, Zikuan Leng et al have recently reported that the transplantation of MSCs, that do not express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, had improved pulmonary function among other parameters in COVID-19 patients [107].…”

A Step Toward Optimizing Regenerative Medicine Principle to Combat COVID-19

“…In COVID-19 patients, IV administration of MSCs leads to the upregulation of neutralizing chemokines IL-10 and IL-17, and rejuvenates and regenerates the repaired parenchymatous pulmonary tissue through neoangiogenesis. [87][88][89] Hence, the patient will have an improved pulmonary function, compliance, and recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia.…”

“…100 MSCs are bestowed with homing ability, immune-regulatory nature, anti-inflammatory effects, multilineage differentiation potential, and lack of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors. 41,88,89 MSCs are innately immune to SARS-CoV-2 infection as they lack key entry points. 70,101 Immunomodulatory and regenerative potential of MSCs promote repair, regeneration, and rejuvenation of pulmonary parenchymal cells, and also resist necroapoptosis and fibrosis of damaged pulmonary parenchymal tissues, which make MSCs a novel therapeutic option in the inflammatory or late stage of the disease.…”