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Review
. 2020 Jun;98(6):789-803.
doi: 10.1007/s00109-020-01927-6. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of COVID-19

Nikoo Hossein-Khannazer  1   2 , Bahare Shokoohian  3   4 , Anastasia Shpichka  5   6 , Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei  7 , Peter Timashev  8   9   10   11 , Massoud Vosough  12
Affiliations
Review

Novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of COVID-19

Nikoo Hossein-Khannazer et al. J Mol Med (Berl). 2020 Jun.

Abstract

To date, there is no licensed treatment or approved vaccine to combat the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), and the number of new cases and mortality multiplies every day. Therefore, it is essential to develop an effective treatment strategy to control the virus spread and prevent the disease. Here, we summarized the therapeutic approaches that are used to treat this infection. Although it seems that antiviral drugs are effective in improving clinical manifestation, there is no definite treatment protocol. Lymphocytopenia, excessive inflammation, and cytokine storm followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome are still unsolved issues causing the severity of this disease. Therefore, immune response modulation and inflammation management can be considered as an essential step. There is no doubt that more studies are required to clarify immunopathogenesis and immune response; however, new therapeutic approaches including mesenchymal stromal cell and immune cell therapy showed inspiring results.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID-19; Cell therapy; Coronavirus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Therapeutic approaches.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of clinical complications of COVID-19. (a) Passive immunotherapy using serum of immunized individuals. (b) Monoclonal antibodies can directly target virus particles. Also, mAbs can be used to eliminate crucial cytokines in progression of inflammation, e.g., IL-6. (c) The effector cells in adoptive immunotherapy can be used to specifically target infected cells and enhance anti-viral immune responses. (d) Mesenchymal stromal cells are key players in immunomodulation of severe immune response. The paracrine effect of these cells can tune down immune reaction. (e) Using nanostructures for drug delivery in different medical applications. (f) Recombinant ACE2 receptor protein in soluble form attaches to viral particles. (g) Antiviral medicines can prohibit viral proliferation
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