Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for COVID-19: Present or Future

Abstract

" is the word that certainly isn't forgotten by everybody who lives in the first half of the twenty-first century. COVID-19, as a pandemic, has led many researchers from different biomedical fields to find solutions or treatments to manage the pandemic. However, no standard treatment for this disease has been discovered to date. Probably, preventing the severe acute respiratory infection form of COVID-19 as the most dangerous phase of this disease can be helpful for the treatment and reduction of the death rate. In this regard, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based immunomodulation treatment has been proposed as a suitable therapeutic approach and several clinical trials have begun. Recently, MSCs according to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties attract attention in clinical trials. After the intravenous transplantation of MSCs, a significant population of cells accumulates in the lung, which they alongside immunomodulatory effect could protect alveolar epithelial cells, reclaim the pulmonary microenvironment, prevent pulmonary fibrosis, and cure lung dysfunction. Given the uncertainties in this area, we reviewed reported clinical trials and hypotheses to provide useful information to researchers and those interested in stem cell therapy. In this study, we considered this new approach to improve patient's immunological responses to COVID-19 using MSCs and discussed the aspects of this proposed treatment. However, currently, there are no approved MSC-based approaches for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 patients but clinical trials ongoing.

Is COVID-19 a New Hematologic Disease?

“…MSCs have been tested in several clinical trials with an excellent safety record in particular in immune mediated inflammatory diseases, such as graft versus host disease (GVHD) and autoimmune diseases [39]. Thus, several clinical studies are ongoing to test efficacy of MSCs in Covid-19 patients [40]. Leng et al investigated whether MSC transplantation improves the outcome of 7 enrolled patients with COVID 19 pneumonia in China [41].…”

Engineered human mesenchymal stem cells as new vaccine platform for COVID-19

“…Combined with the advantages of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of diseases [21] , we believe that such stem cells or cell-based vaccines will be a promising strategy to control COVID-19 and other coronavirus with unknown potential risk [22] , and it is also a promising model for some pandemic disease.…”

Dodging COVID-19 infection: Low expression and localization of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) in Mesenchymal Stem Cells derived from human umbilical cord (hUC-MSCs). 

“…Likewise, trophic factors secreted by MSCs (MTF), which can be administered by inhalation, have shown therapeutic bene ts for pulmonary disease 39,40 . In light of this, international trials are currently ongoing to treat COVID-19 with mesenchymal stem cells derived from a variety of tissues 41 .…”