Key strategies and research advances in cell therapy for COVID-19

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-1221.2020.04.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly infectious, with a high mortality rate among severe and critically severe patients with COVID-19. However, there is no effective treatment at present, which highlights a desperate need of a safe and effective treatment. Previous studies have revealed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to normalize immune system function and repair the damaged tissues. On the one hand, MSCs could reduce the possibility of cytokine storm and the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome by secreting anti-inflammatory factors, and thus the mortality of critically ill patients. On the other hand, MSCs could repair damaged lung tissues, prevent pulmonary fibrosis, improve respiratory function by secreting trophic factors, and thus treat refractory lung injury-related diseases caused by coronavirus. Natural killer cells might play an important role in preventing viral infections and the transfer from patients with mild COVID-19 to patients with severe COVID-19. In this review, the current research of cell therapy for COVID-19 disease is summarized and analyzed.

Key words: Coronavirus Disease 2019, Mesenchymal stem cells, Immune regulation, Tissue repair, Natural killer cells

Weiqi Yao, Heng Mei, Lei Shi, Yu Zhang, Yu Hu. Key strategies and research advances in cell therapy for COVID-19[J]. Chinese Journal of Cell and Stem Cell(Electronic Edition), 2020, 10(04): 234-239.

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References 59

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