Mesenchymal stem cells can be used as potential therapy for COVID-19

28 May. 2020

The 2019 Mustafa Prize laureate from Islamic countries, pointed to the use of stem cells to treat COIVD-19.

"Based on preclinical and clinical evidence, allogeneic human mesenchymal stem (Stomal) cells (MSCs) could be a potential new treatment for COVID-19," he observed.

Baharvand said: "MSCs can modulate the immune response and secrete anti-inflammatory factors and anti-microbial peptides and tissue repair agents. Also, it should be noted that due to the lack of expression of the MHC Class II marker (HLA-DR) on the MSCs' surface, they have the low potential of immunogenicity and consequently have been used vastly for allogeneic transplantation."

"It has been revealed that most MSCs were trapped into the lung's capillary beds within a few minutes after intravenous delivery. So, it seems that the intravenous route for transplanted MSCs could effectively deliver the cells to the lung, as a mainly affected organ in the ARDS setting. These potential benefits of MSCs present the case for their use as a new treatment in patients with COVID-19," he continued.

Bahravand said that they have been used to treat ARDS and other respiratory conditions. The findings suggest that infusions of MSC are safe and well-tolerated in patients with acute or chronic compromised respiratory conditions.

Recently, there have been two reports from China that show there have been significant improvements in the outcomes of seven COVID pneumonia patients without observed adverse effects compared with three patients in placebo group.

"According to the therapeutic potential of MSCs, we aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of MSCs infused into patients diagnosed with COVID-19 ARDS. This is a phase 1 multicenter trial conducted in patients who were in severe and critically severe stages of this disease," he said.

Their study concluded that the intravenous administration of MSC is safe and well-tolerated and might be useful in patients with severe but not critical COVID-19 in the absence of underlying diseases."

Finally, he announced a future study entitled "Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells for Treatment of Severe Patients with COVID-19: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial."

News Source: MSTF Media