Stem Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Target for COVID-19

Abstract

A large variety of therapeutic products have been developed as vaccines or treatments of COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate and spread. The severe COVID-19 patients have limited treatment options. Therefore, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are proposed as another therapeutic target. They are known for their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. They showed potent efficacy and safety abilities for the treatment of critical COVID-19 patients and intriguing benefits in reducing lungs damage, mortality, and cytokine storm in several clinical studies. Another promising treatment option is the use of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to combat SARS-CoV-2, despite the fact that detailed therapeutic strategies and mechanisms are still lacking. In this review we shed light on the immune response against COVID-19 infection and the relevant knowledge considering the role of MSCs in innate and adaptive immune responses to better understand the immune-physiological mechanisms of MSCs treatment. Lastly, we summarize the latest progress in clinical and research studies suggesting potential MSCs/DPSCs as therapeutic targets in battling COVID-19.