Open AccessFeasibility of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for COVID-19: A Mini Review
Author(s) -
Jingwen Li,
Xinyi Wang,
Na Li,
Ying Jiang,
Heqing Huang,
Tao Wang,
Zhicheng Lin,
Nian Xiong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current gene therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1875-5631
pISSN - 1566-5232
DOI - 10.2174/1566523220999200820172829
Subject(s) - cytokine storm , ards , mesenchymal stem cell , medicine , stem cell , immune system , immunology , case fatality rate , cell therapy , cytokine release syndrome , cytokine , stem cell therapy , intensive care medicine , disease , lung , immunotherapy , covid-19 , pathology , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , epidemiology , chimeric antigen receptor , genetics
Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 carry the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which involves multiple systems and organs with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as the most common complication, largely due to cytokine storms or dysregulated immunity. As such, there are many severe patients with complications such as cytokine storm syndrome (CSS), who have a high fatality rate. Neither specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs nor vaccines exist currently. Current treatment relies mainly on self-recovery through patients' immune function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a kind of multipotent tissue stem cells, which have powerful anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory functions, inhibiting the cytokine storms. In addition, MSCs have a strong ability to repair tissue damage and reduce the risk of severe complications such as acute lung injury and ARDS, and hopefully, reduce the fatality rate in these patients. There are several clinical types of research completed for treating COVID-19 with MSCs, all reporting restoration of T cells and clinical safety. Here we discuss the clinical prospect and conclude the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism for MSCs in treating COVID-19.