Current Clinical Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients: Review

Coronavirus-2019 disease is a newly diagnosed infectious disease, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2. It spreads quickly and has become a major public health problem throughout the world. When the viral structural spike protein binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor of the host cell membrane, the virus enters into host cells. The virus primarily affects lung epithelial cells or other target cells that express angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors in COVID-19 patients. Chemokines released by the host cells stimulate the recruitment of different immune cells. A cytokine storm occurs when a high amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced as a result of the accumulation of immune cells. In COVID-19 patients, cytokine storms are the leading cause of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent and self-renewing adult stem cells, which are obtained from a variety of tissues including bone marrow, adipose tissue, Warthon’s jelly tissue, and amniotic fluid. Mesenchymal stem cells primarily exert their important therapeutic effects through 2 mechanisms: immunoregulatory effects and differentiation capacity. Mesenchymal stem cells can release several cytokines via paracrine mechanism or by direct interaction with white blood cells such as natural killer cells, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages, resulting in immune system regulation. Mesenchymal stem cells may help to restore the lung microenvironment, preserve alveolar epithelial cells, prevent lung fibrosis, and treat pulmonary dysfunction that is caused by COVID-19 associated pneumonia. Mesenchymal stem cells therapy may suppress aggressive inflammatory reactions and increase endogenous restoration by improving the pulmonary microenvironment. Furthermore, clinical evidence suggests that intravenous injection of mesenchymal stem cells may radically reduce lung tissue damage in COVID-19 patients. With the advancement of research involving mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of COVID-19, mesenchymal stem cells therapy may be the main strategy for reducing the recent pandemic.