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Review
. 2021 Aug 11;7(33):eabg5995.
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abg5995. Print 2021 Aug.

Cell therapy strategies for COVID-19: Current approaches and potential applications

Mark M Zaki  1   2 , Emal Lesha  1   3 , Khaled Said  4 , Kiavash Kiaee  4 , Lindsey Robinson-McCarthy  4 , Haydy George  1 , Angy Hanna  5 , Evan Appleton  4   6 , Songlei Liu  4   6 , Alex H M Ng  7   4   6 , Parastoo Khoshakhlagh  7   4   6 , George M Church  7   4   6
Affiliations
Review

Cell therapy strategies for COVID-19: Current approaches and potential applications

Mark M Zaki et al. Sci Adv. .

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to burden society worldwide. Despite most patients having a mild course, severe presentations have limited treatment options. COVID-19 manifestations extend beyond the lungs and may affect the cardiovascular, nervous, and other organ systems. Current treatments are nonspecific and do not address potential long-term consequences such as pulmonary fibrosis, demyelination, and ischemic organ damage. Cell therapies offer great potential in treating severe COVID-19 presentations due to their customizability and regenerative function. This review summarizes COVID-19 pathogenesis, respective areas where cell therapies have potential, and the ongoing 89 cell therapy trials in COVID-19 as of 1 January 2021.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Summary of COVID-19 pathogenesis and respective potential for cell therapies by organ system.
Blue text boxes describe specific pathogenesis for each organ system. Green text boxes describe potential and ongoing cell therapy applications for each organ system. ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Descriptive summary of the 89 clinical trials using cell therapies for COVID-19.
(A) Number of COVID-19 targeting cell therapy clinical trials started in each month of the year 2020. (B) World map showing global distribution of the registered cell therapy clinical trials and their numbers per country. (C) Different cell types used in the cell therapy–based clinical trials and their respective count. (D) Stages of the 89 cell therapy clinical trials registered as of 1 January 2021. (E) Distribution of patient enrollment numbers across the 89 clinical trials. (F) Breakdown of the 89 cell therapy clinical trial statuses. (G) The percentages of cell therapies sponsored and supported by the industry sector.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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