Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy and COVID-19

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading since late 2019 and has infected more than 360 million people worldwide. Infected individuals often develop severe illnesses, such as hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can lead to multiple organ failure. To manage the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination programs have been conducted around the globe. In addition to supportive and antiviral medications, much attention has been focused on immunotherapies aimed at reducing pathological changes in the lungs. Currently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received extensive attention as an option in treating COVID-19 because of their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. This article discusses how MSCs play a major role in the battle against COVID-19, their pathological characteristics, their safety, and their possible effectiveness in treating the disease.