MSC-Based Cell Therapy for COVID-19-Associated ARDS and Classical ARDS : Comparative Perspectives

• Purpose of Review: Despite no general conclusions regarding the therapeutic effect of MSCs on virus-induced acute lung injury in pre-clinical studies, a significant number of clinical trials using MSC-based treatment for COVID-19-associated ARDS were initiated during the global pandemic. Here, we aimed to discuss differences and similarities in clinical trials using MSC-based treatments for classical ARDS and COVID-19-associated ARDS and to raise some future perspectives. Recent Findings: Several pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that MSC treatment may not be a good treatment option for virus infections because MSCs themselves are susceptible to the virus. However, MSCs lack expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, suggesting that MSCs are not likely to be infected by the COVID-19 virus. Interestingly, recent meta-analyses demonstrated that an improved survival rate in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS treated with MSCs was obtained in 24 out of 26 completed clinical trials. Summary: This review provides comparative perspectives on MSC-based therapy for COVID-19-associated ARDS and classical ARDS.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Cell therapy

COVID-19

Lung

Mesenchymal stromal cells

MSCs

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