Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Treatment Strategy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Need for Authority Regulations and Clinical Guidelines

Abstract

The cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) known as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, formerly designated 2019-nCoV) was first discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It then spread rapidly worldwide. Investigation for the discovery of drugs to cure this disease continues. The currently accepted treatments are supportive, but there is no specific disease curing intervention found yet. Since mid-February, therapies involving Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) have been proposed for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. In light of these recent developments, this review will focus on: i) the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 action and the subsequent pathology in COVID-19, ii) the proposed mechanism( s) of outcome-improving action of MSCs or MSC-derived extracellular vesicles in COVID-19 pneumonia, iii) registered MSC-based clinical trials and interventions for the treatment of COVID-19, iv) published case studies/series/trials reporting the use of MSC-based treatments in COVID-19 cases, and finally v) the need for authority regulations and clinical guidelines for MSCbased treatment strategies for COVID-19.