Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A promising approach in COVID-19 treatment
Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A promising approach in COVID-19 treatment
Nima Abedini,1Mahtab Moghaddam,2Zahra Kakavand ,3Mahmood Talkhabi,4,*
2. Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 3. Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 4. Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 beyond the borders of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in China and the elevation of the status of covid19 to a pandemic, health systems, researchers and physicians around the globe were faced with an unpresented challenge. This virus like its predecessor SARS-CoV generally has respiratory manifestations. In most cases the patients show mild symptoms which usually require minimum medical intervention, however with an increase in age and the presence of comorbidities the symptoms might be more severe and even result in death. As cases grew worldwide, clinical manifestations went further than the respiratory system to include the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Current therapies for critically ill patients that are mostly concentrated on controlling inflammation in the acute phase of the infection, have some limitations. The therapy may be non- specific for SARS-CoV-2 or like remdesivir and Tocilizumab be difficult to obtain. Another important consideration is the long-term side effects of these treatments such as pulmonary fibrosis and ischemic damage to the lungs. In order to address these issues Researchers have turned to cell therapy because of their regenerative and reprogramming capabilities.
Methods: This study is a review, conducted by searching databases such as: Google scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate and Medline. 12 articles were chosen based on the keyword entries. Chosen articles fall into two categories: information and background on the subject and data on clinical trials.
Results: Current approaches in cell therapy include the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and T-cells. Among these, MSCs are viable candidates for Covid-19 cell therapy for a multitude of reasons including easy interaction from several sources, multipotency and the ability to expand to desired clinical volumes in a short period of time. The uncontrollable secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Covid-19 results in a phenomenon called a cytokine storm that leads to severe tissue damage which can prove fatal and any effort in suppressing the immune system could derail the treatment process and be very dangerous. Mesenchymal stem cells possess anti-inflammatory features and are able to regulate the immune system by repairing damaged tissue. The systemic injection of mesenchymal stem cells results in their localization in the pulmonary vasculature; from there, these cells secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines, anti-microbial peptides, angiogenic factors and extracellular vesicles which improve pulmonary microenvironment, protect alveolar cells, prevent fibrosis and eventually improve lung function.
Conclusion: In this study, we have reviewed the latest findings and advances in Covid-19 mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Despite the production of several vaccines for Covid-19, a slow vaccination rate and the immergence of new variants highlights the importance of designing and developing specific therapies and treatments for controlling this disease. Cell therapy through mesenchymal stem cells has presented itself as a suitable candidate for the concentration of these endeavors. The potential for easy and non-invasive isolation and the possibility of long-term storage through cryopreservation are major benefits of this method. The success of pre-clinical trials shows great potential for this treatment.