The critical role of mesenchymal stromal/stem cell therapy in COVID-19 patients: An updated review

Cell Biochem Funct. 2021 Dec;39(8):945-954. doi: 10.1002/cbf.3670. Epub 2021 Sep 20.

Abstract

New coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a pandemic disaster, has drawn the attention of researchers in various fields to discover suitable therapeutic approaches for the management of COVID-19 patients. Currently, there are many worries about the rapid spread of COVID-19; there is no approved treatment for this infectious disease, despite many efforts to develop therapeutic procedures for COVID-19. Emerging evidence shows that mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) therapy can be a suitable option for the management of COVID-19. These cells have many biological features (including the potential of differentiation, high safety and effectiveness, secretion of trophic factors and immunoregulatory features) that make them suitable for the treatment of various diseases. However, some studies have questioned the positive role of MSC therapy in the treatment of COVID-19. Accordingly, in this paper, we will focus on the therapeutic impacts of MSCs and their critical role in cytokine storm of COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: cytokine storm; immunoregulatory; mesenchymal stem cell; new coronavirus disease 2019; pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Cell Communication
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism

Substances

  • Toll-Like Receptors