Current Stem Cell Research Status on Hepatic and Pulmonary Sclerosis in COVID-19

Abstract

Since 2019, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has changed the concept of systemic sclerosis caused by viral infectious diseases. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative organism of COVID-19, has infected more than 1.36 billion people in 188 countries, and nearly 2.29 million have died. Although we have rapidly developed vaccines against COVID-19, the struggle to treat COVID-19 patients who exhibit complicated multiple organ sclerosis has continued ever since. Studies have reported that preexisting liver disease in 3-8% of patients increases metabolic dysfunction and mortality by 4-6-fold in association with the severity of COVID-19. Moreover, both confirmed and cured COVID-19 patients have been reported to develop pulmonary fibrosis, which is often related to poor prognosis of the complications. Therefore, in the present study, we summarize the possible mechanisms underlying the development of hepatic and pulmonary fibrosis caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, based on recently published data. Furthermore, since stem cell-based treatments have been developed as a novel approach to treat COVID-19 patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SS), we discuss the implementation of stem cell-based treatments as a powerful regenerative tool owing to their notable immunomodulatory and anti-fibrotic effects.