Intravenous infusion of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a potential treatment for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has grown to be a global public health emergency since patients were first detected in Wuhan, China. Thus far, no specific drugs or vaccines are available to cure the patients with COVID-19 infection. The immune system and inflammation are proposed to play a central role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to possess a comprehensive powerful immunomodulatory function. Intravenous infusion of MSCs has shown promising results in COVID-19 treatment. Here, we report a case of a severe COVID-19 patient treated with human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (hWJCs) from a healthy donor in Liaocheng People's Hospital, China, from February 24, 2020. The pulmonary function and symptoms of the patient with COVID-19 pneumonia was significantly improved in 2 days after hWJC transplantation, and recovered and discharged in 7 days after treatment. After treatment, the percentage and counts of lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T cell) were increased, and the level of IL-6, TNF-α, and C-reactive protein is significantly decreased after hWJC treatment. Thus, the intravenous transplantation of hWJCs was safe and effective for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, especially for the patients in a critically severe condition. This report highlights the potential of hWJC infusions as an effective treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords: COVID-19; Human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs; Immunomodulatory; Treatment.

Fig. 1

Chest computerized tomography (CT) images of the COVID-19 patient. A-1–A-4 On February 12, ground-glass opacity (GGO) and pneumonia infiltration occurred in both the left and right lungs. Several GGO regions in each of the 5 lung lobes, and some with traction bronchiectasis; in the left lower lobe, crazy-paving pattern (GGO with superimposed inter- and intralobular septal thickening) with a few scattered consolidation and vascular dilatation were observed. B-1–B-4 CT images on February 22 indicate the symptoms of the patient are slightly relieved, but the pneumonia was still significant. There were reduced regions of initial GGO, with a new area of subpleural consolidation. C-1–C-4 Cell transplantation was performed on February 24. On March 1, the pneumonia infiltration faded away very much. Most of the ground-glass opacity lightened, or even disappeared. The partial area of consolidation was still observed

Fig. 2

The dynamic changes of the lymphocyte subsets of the patient. The percentage of CD3⁺ T cell (a), CD4⁺ T cell (b), and CD8⁺ T cell (c) and the counts of CD3⁺ T cell (d), CD4⁺ T cell (e), and CD8⁺ T cell (f) were all increased after intravenous injection of hWJCs

Fig. 3

The dynamic changes of IL-6 (a), TNF-α (b), and C-reaction protein (c). The level of plasma C-reaction protein, IL-6, and TNF-α was significantly decreased after intravenous injection of hWJCs