The quantity of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) required for a particular therapy demands their subsequent expansion through ex vivo culture. During in vitro multiplication, they undergo replicative senescence which may alter their genetic stability. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze cellular, molecular, and chromosomal alterations in Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) during their in vitro sequential passages, where WJ-MSCs were sequentially passaged up to P14 and cells were evaluated at an interval of P2, P6, P10, and P14. They were examined for their morphology, tumorigenicity, surface markers, stemness markers, DNA damage, chromosomal aberration, and telomere length. We have processed five full-term delivered human umbilical cord samples to obtain WJ-MSCs. Morphological appearance observed at initial stages was small fine spindle-shaped WJ-MSCs which were transformed to flat, long, and broader cells in later passages. The cell proliferation rate was gradually decreased after the 10th passage. WJ-MSCs have expressed stemness markers OCT-4 and NANOG, while they showed high expression of positive surface markers CD90 and CD105 and lower expression of CD34 and CD45. They were non-tumorigenic with slow cellular aging during subsequent passages. There was no chromosomal abnormality up to the 14th passage, while increase in comet score and decrease in telomere length were observed in later passages. Hence, our study suggests that early and middle passaged (less than P10) WJ-MSCs are good candidates for clinical administration for treatment.

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Whilst the manufacture of a safe and potent vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is the ultimate goal of the COVID-19 response, research is also in progress to develop novel treatments that could facilitate infected patients in the meantime. Casualty in COVID-19 patients are connected with onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to its cytokine storm phenomenon resulting in abandoned systemic inflammatory response from the release of pro-inflammatory chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL-10) and cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β, IFN-α, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-8, IL-33). This implies immune system is not capable to turn itself off once it has generated enough of a defense against the virus. An extended cytokine storm will finally shut down breathing completely, which may lead to death. In the context of COVID19, there is a likelihood possibility of treatment of patients by transplanting Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). MSCs are known to have an immune-regulatory role and MSCs have used in patients that have been affected by the cytokine storm may fine balance the immune system in order to stop the overreaction, without switching it completely off, so that the immune system can carry on to fight the infection. In this review, we have considered the research studies which have used MSCs for the treatment of COVID-19. The cohort study is needed to approve MSCs as therapy, although many clinical trials have been registered to apply MSCs as therapy for severely affected COVID-19 patients.