The Rising Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Various Infectious Complications

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells are heterogenous adult multipotent stromal cells that can be isolated from various sources including: bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, dental pulp, and adipose tissue. They have certain immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, and antimicrobial properties that enable them to have several therapeutic and clinical applications including: treatment of autoimmune disorders, role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine, as well as treatment of various infections and their associated complications such as septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although more success has been achieved in preclinical trials on the use of mesenchymal stem cells in animal models than in human clinical trials, particularly in septic shock and Chagas disease, more progress has been made in both disorders after the recent use of specific sources and certain doses of mesenchymal stem cells. Nevertheless, the utilization of this type of stem cells has shown remarkable progress in the treatment of few infections such as tuberculosis. The clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of several diseases still faces real challenges that need to be resolved. The following book chapter will be an updated review on the role of mesenchymal stem cells in various infections and their complications.

Stem Cell Therapies in Systemic Sclerosis: An Updated Review

“…Based on their origin and potency, stem cells are classified into either embryonic and adult stem cells or unipotent, oligopotent, totipotent, multipotent, and pluripotent stem cells [45,46,48,49]. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are heterogenous adult multipotent stromal cells that can be isolated from various sources including: BM, Peripheral Blood (PB), Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB), and Adipose Tissue (AT) [50,51]. They have certain immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, and antimicrobial properties that enable them to have several clinical applications including: their role in transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) as well as regenerative medicine and treatment of autoimmune disorders [50,51].…”

Critical roles of TLRs on the polarization of Mesenchymal stem cells for cell therapy of viral infections: A notice for COVID-19 treatment

“…TLR family members were demonstrated in different cells and even different cell organelles. For instance, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, and endosomes for recognizing viral nucleic acids [12]. TLR related MSC signaling can be influenced by the physio-pathological condition.…”

“…Recently, China, USA, Iran, and several other countries have begun MSC-based therapy clinical studies in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients [1]. Literature reviews have shown several significant results related to MSC behavior and viral infections include in [12]: (1) MSCs are liable to be influenced by members of the herpes viruses group such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, HSV-2, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and subsequent of these infections become functionally defective.…”

The rising role of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of COVID-19 infections

“…MSCs derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB) and adipose tissue are more advantageous than other sources of MSCs [50][51][52][53][54][55]. MSCs exhibit the following antimicrobial properties: detection and elimination of the invading pathogen by enhancing bacterial clearance; activation of the host immune response by induction of proin lammatory gradients or responses; and secretion of antimicrobial proteins [43,53,56]. MSCs have the following effects on the lungs: immunomodulatory effects; protection of alveolar epithelial cells; restoration of pulmonary microenvironment; prevention of pulmonary ibrosis; reversal of pulmonary dysfunction and control of COVID-19 pneumonia; prevention of cytokine release; and promotion of endogenous repair.…”

“…After IV injection of MSC-secretome, the secretome remains highly stable in the peripheral circulation and it spreads into lung tissues to provide: immunomodulation, resolution of in lammation, restoration of capillary barrier function, and enhancement of bacterial clearance [59]. Recently it has been shown that MSCs and their secretomes have promising results in the treatment of sepsis, viral pneumonia, ALI, and ARDS thus making the secretory products of MSCs superior to pure cellular therapies [56,57,62]. MSC-secretome acts on several cytokines simultaneously and synergistically and if MSC-secretome can be formulated as a freeze-dried powder and administered as IV or by inhalation, it may represent a suitable approach for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia particularly in patients who are critically ill [59].…”