Combating COVID-19 with mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Abstract

The COVID-19 disease is caused by a positive stranded RNA virus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus mainly targets the pulmonary epithelial cells as it's initial site of infection by letting its surface spike protein interact and bind to the host ACE2 receptor. The internalization and gradual replication of the virus results in an exaggerated immune response triggering release of many pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This immune storm is responsible for multiple health hazards in the host ultimately leading to multiple organ failure. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy offers a promising approach towards mitigating the delirious effects of the infection in the COVID-19 patients. This therapy has shown to reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as repair of damaged tissues in COVID-19 patients. This review has been organized to put forward the positive aruments and implications in support of mesenchymal stem cell therapy as a necessary approach for treating COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cytokines; Immunomodulatory; Mesenchymal stem cells; SARS-CoV-2.

Fig. 1

Classification of COVID-19 on clinical basis issued by the National Health Commission of China.

Fig. 2

Data obtained from epidemiological studies conducted in various countries reporting the incidence of COVID-19 suggested that (A). 80 % of the patients suffering from COVID-19 were asymptomatic. (B). 14 % of them had severe symptoms, and (C). 6% of the reported patients were critically ill.