Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Potential Option for COVID-19 Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• COVID-19 causes severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), leading to high mortality, especially in at-risk populations.
• Current treatments for severe COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS are limited, with no targeted therapies available for the associated multiorgan failure.
• COVID-19 is characterized by an overactive immune response, contributing to severe illness and organ damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics and proposed mechanisms of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for treating COVID-19.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of MSC therapy in patients with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure and ARDS.
• To synthesize findings from published case reports and clinical trials on MSC treatment for severe COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on MSCs.
• Analysis of proposed immunomodulatory and regenerative mechanisms of MSCs in the context of COVID-19.
• Compilation and discussion of data from published case reports and clinical trials involving MSC therapy for COVID-19.

Main Results:

• MSCs possess a favorable safety profile and have demonstrated potential in various clinical applications.
• Proposed mechanisms include modulation of the cytokine storm, reduction of inflammation, and promotion of tissue repair in the lungs.
• Published case reports and early clinical trials suggest potential benefits of MSC therapy in improving respiratory function and outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• Mesenchymal stromal cell therapy represents a promising therapeutic strategy for severe COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS.
• Further rigorous clinical trials are warranted to establish the definitive efficacy and optimal use of MSCs in managing COVID-19 complications.
• MSC treatment offers a potential avenue to address the unmet medical need for targeted therapies in critical COVID-19 cases.