SARS-CoV-2 attaches to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor on human cells. The virus causes hypercytokinemia, capillary leak, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac injury, and leads to death. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are ACE-2 negative cells; therefore, can escape from SARSCoV-2. MSCs prevent hypercytokinemia and help the resolution of the pulmonary edema and other damages occurred during the course of COVID-19. In addition, MSCs enhance the regeneration of the lung and other tissues affected by SARS-CoV-2. The case series reported beneficial effect of MSCs in COVID-19 treatment. However, there are some concerns about the safety of MSCs, particularly referring to the increased risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation, and thromboembolism due to the expression of TF/CD142. Prospective, randomized, large scale studies are needed to reveal the optimum dose, administration way, time, efficacy, and safety of MSCs in the COVID-19 treatment.
C1 [Yigenoglu, Tugce Nur; Basci, Semih; Sahin, Derya; Dal, Mehmet Sinan; Altuntas, Fevzi] Univ Hlth Sci, Ankara Oncol Training & Res Hosp, Dept Hematol & Bone Marrow Transplantat Ctr, Ankara, Turkey.
[Ulas, Turgay] Near East Univ, Sch Med, Dept Hematol, Dept Internal Med, Nicosia, Cyprus.
[Korkmaz, Serdal] Univ Hlth Sci, Kayseri Training & Res Hosp, Dept Hematol, Kayseri, Turkey.
[Korkmaz, Serdal] Univ Hlth Sci, Kayseri Training & Res Hosp, Bone Marrow Transplantat Ctr, Kayseri, Turkey.
[Hacibekiroglu, Tuba] Sakarya Univ, Sch Med, Div Hematol, Dept Internal Med, Sakarya, Turkey.
[Namdaroglu, Sinem] Univ Hlth Sci, Bozyaka Training & Res Hosp, Dept Hematol & Bone Marrow Transplantat Ctr, Izmir, Turkey.
[Erkurt, Mehmet Ali] Inonu Univ, Sch Med, Div Hematol, Dept Internal Med, Malatya, Turkey.
[Erkurt, Mehmet Ali] Inonu Univ, Sch Med, Bone Marrow Transplantat Ctr, Dept Internal Med, Malatya, Turkey.
[Turgut, Burhan] Namik Kemal Univ, Sch Med, Div Hematol, Dept Internal Med, Tekirdag, Turkey.
[Turgut, Burhan] Namik Kemal Univ, Sch Med, Hematol & Bone Marrow Transplantat Ctr, Dept Internal Med, Tekirdag, Turkey.
[Altuntas, Fevzi] Ankara Yildirim Beyazit Univ, Sch Med, Div Hematol, Dept Internal Med, Ankara, Turkey.