Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Present Alternative for High-Incidence Diseases, Even SARS-Cov-2

Immune-Cell-Based Therapy for COVID-19: Current Status

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic. The interplay between innate and adaptive immune responses plays a crucial role in managing COVID-19. Cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising strategy to modulate the immune system, offering immense potential for the treatment of COVID-19 due to its customizability and regenerative capabilities. This review provides an overview of the various subsets of immune cell subsets implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and a comprehensive summary of the current status of immune cell therapy in COVID-19 treatment.

IGFBP2 derived from PO-MSCs promote epithelial barrier destruction by activating FAK signaling in nasal polyps

The nasal polyps (NPs) microenvironment comprises multiple cell types, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) plays crucial roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and more. However, the role of NPs-derived MSCs (PO-MSCs) and IGFBP2 in NPs pathogenesis remains poorly defined. Herein, primary human nasal epithelial cells (pHNECs) and MSCs were extracted and cultured. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and soluble proteins were isolated to investigate the role of PO-MSCs on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and epithelial barrier function in NPs. Our data showed that IGFBP2, but not EVs from PO-MSCs (PO-MSCs-EVs), exhibited a crucial role in EMT and barrier destruction. Moreover, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway is necessary for IGFBP2 to exert its functions in human and mice nasal epithelial mucosa. Altogether, these findings may improve the current understanding of the role of PO-MSCs in NPs microenvironment and ultimately contribute to the prevention and treatment of NPs.

Clinical progress in MSC-based therapies for the management of severe COVID-19

Considering the high impact that severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases still pose on public health and their complex pharmacological management, the search for new therapeutic alternatives is essential. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could be promising candidates as they present important immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties that can combat the acute severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the cytokine storm occurring in COVID-19, two processes that are mainly driven by an immunological misbalance. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate inflammatory process derived from the immune dysregulation that occurs in COVID-19, discussing the potential that the cytokines and growth factors that constitute the MSC-derived secretome present to treat the disease. Moreover, we revise the latest clinical progress made in the field, discussing the most important findings of the clinical trials conducted to date, which follow 2 different approaches: MSC-based cell therapy or the administration of the secretome by itself, as a cell-free therapy.

Biomolecules resveratrol + coenzyme Q10 recover the cell state of human mesenchymal stem cells after 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced damage and improve proliferation and neural differentiation

Neurodegenerative disorders are a critical affection with a high incidence around the world. Currently, there are no effective treatments to solve this problem. However, the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and antioxidants in neurodegenerative diseases has shown to be a promising tool due to their multiple therapeutic effects. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of a combination of resveratrol (RSV) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the proliferation and differentiation of MSC and the protector effects in induced damage. To characterize the MSCs, we performed flow cytometry, protocols of cellular differentiation, and immunocytochemistry analysis. The impact of RSV + CoQ10 in proliferation was evaluated by supplementing 2.5 and 10 μM of RSV + CoQ10 in a cellular kinetic for 14 days. Cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase levels (LDH) were also analyzed. The protective effect of RSV + CoQ10 was assessed by supplementing the treatment to damaged MSCs by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+); cellular viability, LDH, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated.. MSCs expressed the surface markers CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 and showed multipotential ability. The combination of RSV + CoQ10 increased the proliferation potential and cell viability and decreased LDH levels. In addition, it reverted the effect of MPP+-induced damage in MSCs to enhance cell viability and decrease LDH and ROS. Finally, RSV + CoQ10 promoted the differentiation of neural progenitors. The combination of RSV + CoQ10 represents a potential treatment to improve MSCs capacities and protect against neurodegenerative damage.

Mesenchymal stromal cells cultured in physiological conditions sustain citrate secretion with glutamate anaplerosis

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory and regenerative potential. However, culture conditions govern their metabolic processes and therapeutic efficacy. Here we show that culturing donor-derived MSCs in Plasmax™, a physiological medium with the concentrations of nutrients found in human plasma, supports their proliferation and stemness, and prevents the nutritional stress induced by the conventional medium DMEM. The quantification of the exchange rates of metabolites between cells and medium, untargeted metabolomics, stable isotope tracing and transcriptomic analysis, performed at physiologically relevant oxygen concentrations (1%O₂), reveal that MSCs rely on high rate of glucose to lactate conversion, coupled with parallel anaplerotic fluxes from glutamine and glutamate to support citrate synthesis and secretion. These distinctive traits of MSCs shape the metabolic microenvironment of bone marrow niche and can influence nutrient cross-talks under physiological and pathological conditions.

Immunomodulating Profile of Dental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Comprehensive Overview

Dental mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells present in dental tissues, characterized by plastic adherence in culture and specific surface markers (CD105, CD73, CD90, STRO-1, CD106, and CD146), common to all other MSC subtypes. Dental pulp, periodontal ligament, apical papilla, human exfoliated deciduous teeth, alveolar bone, dental follicle, tooth germ, and gingiva are all different sources for isolation and expansion of MSCs. Dental MSCs have regenerative and immunomodulatory properties; they are scarcely immunogenic but actively modulate T cell reactivity. in vitro studies and animal models of autoimmune diseases have provided evidence for the suppressive effects of dental MSCs on peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, clearance of apoptotic cells, and promotion of a shift in the Treg/Th17 cell ratio. Appropriately stimulated MSCs produce anti-inflammatory mediators, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), prostaglandin E2, and interleukin (IL)-10. A particular mechanism through which MSCs exert their immunomodulatory action is via the production of extracellular vesicles containing such anti-inflammatory mediators. Recent studies demonstrated MSC-mediated inhibitory effects both on monocytes and activated macrophages, promoting their polarization to an anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype. A growing number of trials focusing on MSCs to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are ongoing, but very few use dental tissue as a cellular source. Recent results suggest that dental MSCs are a promising therapeutic tool for immune-mediated disorders. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for dental MSC-mediated immunosuppression remain to be clarified, and impairment of dental MSCs immunosuppressive function in inflammatory conditions and aging must be assessed before considering autologous MSCs or their secreted vesicles for therapeutic purposes.

Role of microRNA Shuttled in Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells for Osteoarticular Disease Treatment

Osteoarticular diseases (OD), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are chronic autoimmune/inflammatory and age-related diseases that affect the joints and other organs for which the current therapies are not effective. Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is an alternative treatment due to their immunomodulatory and tissue differentiation capacity. Several experimental studies in numerous diseases have demonstrated the MSCs’ therapeutic effects. However, MSCs have shown heterogeneity, instability of stemness and differentiation capacities, limited homing ability, and various adverse responses such as abnormal differentiation and tumor formation. Recently, acellular therapy based on MSC secreted factors has raised the attention of several studies. It has been shown that molecules embedded in extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MSCs, particularly those from the small fraction enriched in exosomes (sEVs), effectively mimic their impact in target cells. The biological effects of sEVs critically depend on their cargo, where sEVs-embedded microRNAs (miRNAs) are particularly relevant due to their crucial role in gene expression regulation. Therefore, in this review, we will focus on the effect of sEVs derived from MSCs and their miRNA cargo on target cells associated with the pathology of RA and OA and their potential therapeutic impact.

Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, the Immunological Key Words of Severe COVID-19. Is There a Role for Stem Cell Transplantation?

The outcomes of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vary depending on the age, health status and sex of an individual, ranging from asymptomatic to lethal. From an immunologic viewpoint, the final severe lung damage observed in COVID-19 should be caused by cytokine storm, driven mainly by interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, which immunopathogenic status precedes this "cytokine storm" and why the male older population is more severely affected, are currently unanswered questions. The aging of the immune system, i.e., immunosenescence, closely associated with a low-grade inflammatory status called "inflammageing," should play a key role. The remodeling of both innate and adaptive immune response observed with aging can partly explain the age gradient in severity and mortality of COVID-19. This review discusses how aging impacts the immune response to the virus, focusing on possible strategies to rejuvenate the immune system with stem cell-based therapies. Indeed, due to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a worth-considering option against COVID-19 adverse outcomes.

Regulation of Inflammatory Cytokine Storms by Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used in preclinical and clinical trials for various diseases and have shown great potential in the treatment of sepsis and coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Inflammatory factors play vital roles in the pathogenesis of diseases. The interaction between inflammatory factors is extremely complex. Once the dynamics of inflammatory factors are unbalanced, inflammatory responses and cytokine storm syndrome develop, leading to disease exacerbation and even death. Stem cells have become ideal candidates for the treatment of such diseases due to their immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanisms by which stem cells affect inflammation and immune regulation are still unclear. This article discusses the therapeutic mechanism and potential value of MSCs in the treatment of sepsis and the novel COVID-19, outlines how MSCs mediate innate and acquired immunity at both the cellular and molecular levels, and described the anti-inflammatory mechanisms and related molecular pathways. Finally, we review the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy in these two diseases at the preclinical and clinical levels.

Characteristics and Developments in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for COVID-19: An Update

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has so far resulted in over a hundred million people being infected. COVID-19 poses a threat to human health around the world. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been confirmed as the pathogenic virus of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the β-coronavirus family of viruses and is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract. It has been proven that SARS-CoV-2 mainly targets angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptors on the surface of various cells in humans. The main clinical symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Current evidence suggests that the damage caused by the virus may be closely related to the induction of cytokine storms in COVID-19. No specific drugs or measures have yet to be shown to cure COVID-19 completely. Cell-based approaches, primarily mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been identified to have anti-inflammatory and immune functions in COVID-19. Clinical studies about using MSCs and its derivatives-exosomes for COVID-19 treatment-are under investigation. Here, we review the current progress of the biological characteristics, clinical manifestations, and cell-based treatment development for COVID-19. Providing up-to-date information on COVID-19 and potential MSC therapies will help highlight routes to prevent and treat the disease.

Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Products in Lung Diseases-Intravenous Administration versus Inhalation

The number of publications studying the therapeutic use of stem cells has steadily increased since 2000. Compared to other applications, there has been little interest in the evaluation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC-derived products (mostly extracellular vesicles) for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Due to the lack of efficient treatments for acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the action of MSCs has also been studied. This review describes mode of action and use of MSCs and MSC-derived products in the treatment of lung diseases including the respective advantages and limitations of the products. Further, issues related to standardized production are addressed. Administration by inhalation of MSCs, compared to intravenous injection, could decrease cell damage by shear stress, eliminate the barrier to reach target cells in the alveoli, prevent thrombus formation in the pulmonary vasculature and retention in filter for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. There is more feasible to deliver extracellular vesicles than MSCs with inhalers, offering the advantage of non-invasive and repeated administration by the patient. Major obstacles for comparison of results are heterogeneity of the products, differences in the treatment protocols and small study cohorts.