Hematology and Stem Cells Laboratory, Health Sciences Department, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil.
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Health Sciences Department, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil.
Front Immunol. 2020 Jul 3;11:1563. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01563. eCollection 2020.
COVID-19 is a disease characterized by a strong inflammatory response in severe cases, which fails to respond to corticosteroid therapy. In the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak and the critical information gaps regarding the disease, several different therapeutic strategies are under investigation, including the use of stem cells. In the present manuscript, we provide an analysis of the rationale underlying the application of stem cells to manage COVID-19, and also a comprehensive compendium of the 69 clinical trials underway worldwide aiming to investigate the application of stem cells to treat COVID-19. Even though data are still scarce, it is already possible to observe the protagonism of China in testing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for COVID-19. Furthermore, it is possible to determine that current efforts focus on the use of multiple infusions of high numbers of stem cells and derived products, as well as to acknowledge the positive results obtained by independent groups who publicized the therapeutic benefits provided by such therapies in 51 COVID-19 patients. In such a rapid-paced field, up-to-date systematic studies and meta-analysis will aid the scientific community to separate hype from hope and offer an unbiased position to the society and governments.
COVID-19 是一种以严重病例中强烈炎症反应为特征的疾病，对皮质类固醇治疗无反应。在当前 COVID-19 爆发的背景下，以及关于该疾病的关键信息差距，正在研究几种不同的治疗策略，包括使用干细胞。在本手稿中，我们提供了对应用干细胞来管理 COVID-19 的基本原理的分析，以及对全球正在进行的旨在研究应用干细胞来治疗 COVID-19 的 69 项临床试验的全面概述。尽管数据仍然稀缺，但已经可以观察到中国在测试间充质干细胞（MSCs）治疗 COVID-19 方面的主导地位。此外，可以确定目前的努力集中在使用多次输注大量的干细胞和衍生产品，以及承认独立小组所取得的积极结果，这些小组公布了这些疗法在 51 例 COVID-19 患者中的治疗益处。在这样一个快速发展的领域，最新的系统研究和荟萃分析将帮助科学界将炒作与希望分开，并为社会和政府提供公正的立场。
