Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Promising Treatment for COVID-19 Pandemic.

Azapira, Negar; Pourjafar, Sarina; Habibi, Azam; Tayebi, Lobat; Keshtkar, Somayeh; Kaviani, Maryam

The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection has prompted the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches, especially for patients in critically severe conditions. To date, the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is not completely understood, and finding an effective new drug is still inconclusive. Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles contain large amounts of proteins, messenger RNA, and microRNAs that act as vehicles that transfer the cargo between cells. These nanotherapeutic materials exert anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system, which are necessary for subsidence of acute inflammation and promotion of tissue repair and regeneration. Therefore, the consideration of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a new, safe, and effective therapeutic approach in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia is suggested.