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Qu W, Wang Z, Engelberg-Cook E, Yan D, Siddik AB, Bu G, Allickson JG, Kubrova E, Caplan AI, Hare JM, Ricordi C, Pepine CJ, Kurtzberg J, Pascual JM, Mallea JM, Rodriguez RL, Nayfeh T, Saadi S, Durvasula RV, Richards EM, March K, Sanfilippo FP. Efficacy and Safety of MSC Cell Therapies for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:688-703. [PMID: 35640138 PMCID: PMC9299515 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szac032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MSC (a.k.a. mesenchymal stem cell or medicinal signaling cell) cell therapies show promise in decreasing mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and suggest benefits in treatment of COVID-19-related ARDS. We performed a meta-analysis of published trials assessing the efficacy and adverse events (AE) rates of MSC cell therapy in individuals hospitalized for COVID-19. Systematic searches were performed in multiple databases through November 3, 2021. Reports in all languages, including randomized clinical trials (RCTs), non-randomized interventional trials, and uncontrolled trials, were included. Random effects model was used to pool outcomes from RCTs and non-randomized interventional trials. Outcome measures included all-cause mortality, serious adverse events (SAEs), AEs, pulmonary function, laboratory, and imaging findings. A total of 736 patients were identified from 34 studies, which included 5 RCTs (n = 235), 7 non-randomized interventional trials (n = 370), and 22 uncontrolled comparative trials (n = 131). Patients aged on average 59.4 years and 32.2% were women. When compared with the control group, MSC cell therapy was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35-0.85, I 2 = 0.0%), reduction in SAEs (IRR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.90, I 2 = 0.0%) and no significant difference in AE rate. A sub-group with pulmonary function studies suggested improvement in patients receiving MSC. These findings support the potential for MSC cell therapy to decrease all-cause mortality, reduce SAEs, and improve pulmonary function compared with conventional care. Large-scale double-blinded, well-powered RCTs should be conducted to further explore these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchun Qu
- Corresponding co-authors: Wenchun Qu, MD, PhD, Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224.
| | - Zhen Wang
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Dan Yan
- Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Guojun Bu
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Eva Kubrova
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Arnold I Caplan
- Skeletal Research Center, Biology Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Joshua M Hare
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Camillo Ricordi
- Department of Surgery, Diabetes Research Institute and Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Carl J Pepine
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joanne Kurtzberg
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jorge M Pascual
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jorge M Mallea
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Tarek Nayfeh
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Samer Saadi
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Elaine M Richards
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center of Regenerative Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Keith March
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fred P Sanfilippo
- Fred P. Sanfilippo, MD, PhD, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, 730GCR, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Stem cell-based therapy for COVID-19 and ARDS: a systematic review. NPJ Regen Med 2021; 6:73. [PMID: 34750382 PMCID: PMC8575895 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-021-00181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite global efforts to establish effective interventions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its major complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the treatment remains mainly supportive. Hence, identifying an effective and safe therapy for severe COVID-19 is critical for saving lives. A significant number of cell-based therapies have been through clinical investigation. In this study, we performed a systematic review of clinical studies investigating different types of stem cells as treatments for COVID-19 and ARDS to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of cell therapy. The literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Among the 29 studies, there were eight case reports, five Phase I clinical trials, four pilot studies, two Phase II clinical trials, one cohort, and one case series. Among the clinical studies, 21 studies used cell therapy to treat COVID-19, while eight studies investigated cell therapy as a treatment for ARDS. Most of these (75%) used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat COVID-19 and ARDS. Findings from the analyzed articles indicate a positive impact of stem cell therapy on crucial immunological and inflammatory processes that lead to lung injury in COVID-19 and ARDS patients. Additionally, among the studies, there were no reported deaths causally linked to cell therapy. In addition to standard care treatments concerning COVID-19 management, there has been supportive evidence towards adjuvant therapies to reduce mortality rates and improve recovery of care treatment. Therefore, MSCs treatment could be considered a potential candidate for adjuvant therapy in moderate-to-severe COVID-19 cases and compassionate use.
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Primorac D, Čemerin M, Matišić V, Molnar V, Strbad M, Girandon L, Zenić L, Knežević M, Minger S, Polančec D. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Potential Option for COVID-19 Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091481. [PMID: 34575557 PMCID: PMC8469913 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the way of life worldwide and continues to bring high mortality rates to at-risk groups. Patients who develop severe COVID-19 pneumonia, often complicated with ARDS, are left with limited treatment options with no targeted therapy currently available. One of the features of COVID-19 is an overaggressive immune reaction that leads to multiorgan failure. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) treatment has been in development for various clinical indications for over a decade, with a safe side effect profile and promising results in preclinical and clinical trials. Therefore, the use of MSCs in COVID-19-induced respiratory failure and ARDS was a logical step in order to find a potential treatment option for the most severe patients. In this review, the main characteristics of MSCs, their proposed mechanism of action in COVID-19 treatment and the effect of this therapy in published case reports and clinical trials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragan Primorac
- St. Catherine Specialty Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.M.); (V.M.)
- Eberly College of Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA
- The Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
- Medical School, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
- Medical School REGIOMED, 96450 Coburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Martin Čemerin
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Vid Matišić
- St. Catherine Specialty Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Vilim Molnar
- St. Catherine Specialty Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Marko Strbad
- Educell Ltd., 1236 Trzin, Slovenia; (M.S.); (L.G.); (M.K.)
- Biobanka Ltd., 1236 Trzin, Slovenia
| | | | - Lucija Zenić
- Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.P.)
| | | | - Stephen Minger
- National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Denis Polančec
- Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.P.)
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