Journal of Oncology Translational Research

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy: Novel concept for the treatment of COVID19 positive patients by immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory mechanism

Abstract

Pravin D Potdar

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have been widely used in stem cell-based therapy due to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. They secrete many types of cytokines by paracrine secretion leading to this immunomodulation. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs are further triggered by the activation of TLR receptors in MSCs, which is stimulated by pathogen-associated molecules such as LPS or double-stranded RNA from virus-like the HCoV-19. In December 2019, the whole world has encountered a new pandemic Novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which is originated from China and spread all over the world in a few months. The Clinical situation of COVID-19 infection varies from mild fever to respiratory failure resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. Increased proinflammatory cytokine activation with detrimental alterations in the lungs has been suggested as a hallmark in the pathogenesis of infection. Since there is no effective cure or vaccine, primary prevention strategies such as avoiding close contact and attention to personal hygiene are strongly recommended. Recent studies have demonstrated that the first step of the HCoV-19 pathogenesis is that the virus specifically recognizes the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) by its spike protein and therefore ACE2-positive cells are infected by the HCoV-19 virus. Unfortunately, the ACE2 receptor is widely distributed on cells surface, especially the alveolar type II cells (AT2) and capillary endothelium.