Chapter 15 - Stem cells as therapeutics and their implications in cytokine storm in COVID-19

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) has burdened health officials around the world. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause immunological problems and damage to the innate and adaptive immune systems in severe situations. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapeutics showed promising results for the therapy of acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, septic organ failure, respiratory insufficiency, and inflammation, which are among the major causes of death in COVID-19 patients. MSCs are multipotent stromal cells and possess enormous traits, for instance, self-renewability, immune regulation, proliferation rate, convenient material acquisition, low-invasive methods, devoid of ethical issues, and microenvironment effects. Various studies also substantiate the safety and effectiveness of MSCs during clinical trials. These cells show immunoregulatory behavior due to the interaction between adaptive and innate immune response cells, which suppresses many effectors’ molecular activities and reduces the cytokine storm caused due to coronavirus infection. MSC-mediated immunosuppression and tissue repair involves a combined reaction of chemokines, cytokines, and other effector molecules. These cells migrate to the site of infection and stimulate many potent antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities to decrease tissue injury, supporting the repair and regeneration of tissues. Here, we emphasize summarizing recent developments in MSC therapy, its mode of action, cytokine storm, and challenges faced by COVID-19.