A current update in COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: Focus on mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Indonesia has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of March 2020, and it doesn't look that the situation is getting better any soon. Besides the country's current strategies to minimize the rising mortality rate, a novel therapeutic intervention is required. After a thorough search in several databases, we found stem cells to be a likely candidate. Regardless of the general use of stem cells, studies showed positive results regarding the efficacy of using these in lung injuries. Especially, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known for their easy accessibility and their diverse mechanisms of action, including MSCs immunomodulatory antiviral effect, and its ability to improve lung function. Moreover, some researches perceived these components to be applicable in COVID-19 patients with end stage acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). While randomized clinical trials are still in progress, many case reports show MSCs to be an advantageous alternative to suppress the cytokine storm and help regulate the immune system. This review summarizes the common functions of MSCs and highlights its therapeutic assets to fully tackle this global pandemic.