Abstract
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AD-MSCs) have been used for many years in regenerative medicine for clinical and surgical applications. Additionally, recent studies reported improved respiratory activity after intravenous administration of MSCs into patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggesting their role as anti-viral therapy. Severe COVID-19 patients usually progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, metabolic acidosis that is difficult to correct, coagulation dysfunction, multiple organ failure, and even death in a short period after onset. Currently, there is still a lack of clinically effective drugs for such patients. The high secretory activity, the immune-modulatory effect, and the homing ability make MSCs and in particular AD-MSCs both a potential tool for the anti-viral drug-delivery in the virus microenvironment and potential cellular therapy. AD-MSCs as the most important exponent of MSCs are expected to reduce the risk of complications and death of patients due to their strong anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory capabilities, which can improve microenvironment, promote neovascularization and enhance tissue repair capabilities. In this literature review, the role of regenerative strategies through MSCs, AD-MSCs, and adipocyte-secreted exosomal microRNAs (A-SE-miRs) as a potential antiviral therapy was reported, comparing the results found with current research progress on drugs and vaccines in COVID-19 disease.
Highlights
The role of regenerative strategies through Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), focusing on Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AD-MSCs), and adipocyte-secreted exosomal microRNAs (A-SE-miRs) as a potential antiviral therapy was reported, comparing the results found with current research progress on drugs and vaccines in COVID-19 disease
128 articles focused on stem cells therapy in COVID-19 were initially identified using Prisma Flow. 97 articles published were reviewed after the exclusion of 31 duplicates
This systematic review included in qualitative synthesis 29 studies
Summary
Search strategyThis systematic review was performed in accordance with the statements and guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) (www.prisma-statement.org). The search was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane handbook. A multistep search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus, and Cochrane databases was performed using different keywords (“Adipose Stem Cells COVID-19”, “Mesenchymal Stem Cells COVID-19”, “COVID-19 Stem Cell Therapy”, “COVID-19 drugs”, “COVID-19 Stem Cells”). In total 1.023 articles were initially found, COVID-19 drugs (n = 861), Adipose Stem Cells COVID-19 (n = 4), Mesenchymal Stem Cells COVID-19 (n = 30), COVID19 Stem Cell Therapy (n = 69), COVID-19 Stem Cells (n = 59), as reported in Diagram 1. Of these amount, 128 articles focused on stem cells therapy in COVID-19 were initially identified using Prisma Flow. Articles on Adipose Stem Cells (ASCs) and Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) implications in COVID-19 were considered, and for this reason a total of 62 articles (in vitro, experimental, and pre-clinical studies) were excluded. The authors decided to select only article reporting the use of ASCs and MSCs
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