Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Wuhan Red Cross Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Curr Gene Ther. 2020;20(4):285-288. doi: 10.2174/1566523220999200820172829.
Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 carry the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which involves multiple systems and organs with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as the most common complication, largely due to cytokine storms or dysregulated immunity. As such, there are many severe patients with complications such as cytokine storm syndrome (CSS), who have a high fatality rate. Neither specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs nor vaccines exist currently. Current treatment relies mainly on self-recovery through patients' immune function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a kind of multipotent tissue stem cells, which have powerful anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory functions, inhibiting the cytokine storms. In addition, MSCs have a strong ability to repair tissue damage and reduce the risk of severe complications such as acute lung injury and ARDS, and hopefully, reduce the fatality rate in these patients. There are several clinical types of research completed for treating COVID-19 with MSCs, all reporting restoration of T cells and clinical safety. Here we discuss the clinical prospect and conclude the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism for MSCs in treating COVID-19.
感染 SARS-CoV-2 的患者携带 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19)，涉及多个系统和器官，以急性呼吸窘迫综合征 (ARDS) 为最常见的并发症，主要是由于细胞因子风暴或免疫失调。因此，有许多患有并发症的重症患者，如细胞因子风暴综合征 (CSS)，死亡率很高。目前既没有针对 SARS-CoV-2 的特效药物，也没有疫苗。目前的治疗主要依赖于患者自身免疫功能的恢复。间充质干细胞 (MSCs) 是一种多能组织干细胞，具有强大的抗炎和免疫调节功能，能抑制细胞因子风暴。此外，MSCs 具有很强的组织损伤修复能力，能降低急性肺损伤和 ARDS 等严重并发症的风险，并有望降低这些患者的死亡率。已经有几种用 MSCs 治疗 COVID-19 的临床类型的研究，都报告了 T 细胞的恢复和临床安全性。在这里，我们讨论了 MSCs 治疗 COVID-19 的临床前景，并总结了 MSCs 的治疗效果和潜在机制。
