Abstract
A new coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, surprised the entire world, producing social, economic, and health problems. The COVID-19 triggers a lung infection with a multiple proinflammatory cytokine storm in severe patients. Without effective and safe treatments, COVID-19 has killed thousands of people, becoming a pandemic. Stem cells have been suggested as a therapy for lung-related diseases. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been successfully tested in some clinical trials in patients with COVID-19. The encouraging results positioned MSCs as a possible cell therapy for COVID-19. The amniotic membrane from the human placenta at term is a valuable stem cell source, including human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs). Interestingly, amnion cells have immunoregulatory, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, hAECs and hAMSCs have been used both in preclinical studies and in clinical trials against respiratory diseases. They have reduced the inflammatory response and restored the pulmonary tissue architecture in lung injury in vivo models. Here, we review the existing data about the stem cells use for COVID-19 treatment, including the ongoing clinical trials. We also consider the non-cellular therapies that are being applied. Finally, we discuss the human amniotic membrane cells use in patients who suffer from immune/inflammatory lung diseases and hypothesize their possible use as a successful treatment against COVID-19.
Highlights
IntroductionThe COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) is a new respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) virus
The COVID-19 is a new respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) mesenchymal stromal cells, WJ-MSCs Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells, P-MMSCs placenta-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, CB-MSCs cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells, ULSCs umbilical cord lining stem cells, Umbilical cord (UC)-MSCs umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells side effects. These results suggested that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) could be used alone or in combination with other immunomodulators as an alternative treatment for severe patients with COVID-19
Summary
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) is a new respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) virus. This virus was identified in several pneumonia patients in late December 2019 in Wuhan city, Hubei province, in China. The COVID-19 contagion has occurred exponentially worldwide, becoming the most urgent problem of global public health [1, 2]. Such was the level of spread and severity of the disease that on March 11, 2020, the WHO (World Health Organization) decided to declare it as a pandemic disease [2]. The global mortality due to COVID-19 oscillates between 2 and 10% approximately
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