Research Progress of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Severe COVID-19.

Cai, Qiqi; Yin, Fei; Hao, Liming; Jiang, Wen-Hua

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) refers to a type of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. 60 million confirmed cases have been reported worldwide until November 29, 2020. Unfortunately, the novel coronavirus is so extremely contagious that the mortality rate of severe and critically ill patients was high. Thus, there is no definite and effective treatment in clinic except for antiviral therapy and supportive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are not only characterized by low immunogenicity and homing, but also have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation characteristics. Furthermore, they can inhibit the occurrence and development of cytokine storm, inhibit lung injury, exert anti-pulmonary fibrosis and anti-oxidative stress, which are expected to become one of the effective therapies to treat severe COVID-19. This article will review the possible mechanisms of MSCs in the treatment of severe COVID-19.