'Primed' Mesenchymal Stem Cells: a Potential Novel Therapeutic for COVID19 Patients

A comprehensive review on the role of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in the management of rheumatoid arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with systemic manifestations. Although the success of immune modulatory drug therapy is considerable, about 40% of patients do not respond to treatment. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to have therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an update on RA disease and on pre-clinical and clinical studies using MSCs from bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and dental pulp, to regulate the immune response. Moreover, the clinical use, safety, limitations, and future perspective of MSCs in RA are discussed. Using the PubMed database and ClincalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed full-text papers, abstracts and clinical trials were identified from 1985 through to April 2023.

EXPERT OPINION

MSCs demonstrated a satisfactory safety profile and potential for clinical efficacy. However, it is mandatory to deepen the investigations on how MSCs affect the proinflammatory deregulated RA patients' cells. MSCs are potentially good candidates for severe RA patients not responding to conventional therapies but a long-term follow-up after stem cells treatment and standardized protocols are needed. Future research should focus on well-designed multicenter randomized clinical trials with adequate sample sizes and properly selected patients satisfying RA criteria for a valid efficacy evaluation.

Clinical Trials of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of COVID 19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are being investigated as a treatment for a novel viral disease owing to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, tissue repair and regeneration characteristics, however, the exact processes are unknown. MSC therapy was found to be effective in lowering immune system overactivation and increasing endogenous healing after SARS-CoV-2 infection by improving the pulmonary microenvironment. Many studies on mesenchymal stem cells have been undertaken concurrently, and we may help speed up the effectiveness of these studies by collecting and statistically analyzing data from them. Based on clinical trial information found on clinicaltrials. gov and on 16 November 2020, which includes 63 clinical trials in the field of patient treatment with COVID-19 using MSCs, according to the trend of increasing studies in this field, and with the help of meta-analysis studies, it is possible to hope that the promise of MSCs will one day be realized. The potential therapeutic applications of MSCs for COVID-19 are investigated in this study.

Visualizing the sustainable development goals and natural resource utilization for green economic recovery after COVID-19 pandemic

After the COVID-19 outbreak, this study examines the influence of modifications in China's Sustainable Growth Goals (SDGs) and economic development goals on Chinese enterprises' energy conservation and emissions reduction behavior. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 epidemic has erupted, displacing the flimsy traditional techniques. As a result, the post-COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the need for a long-term sustainable development method compatible with the local and regional environmental systems. The main objective of this study is used as a roadmap to steer the post-COVID-19 pandemic on a sustainable green path by emphasizing sustainable energy strategies to connect in SDG-related efforts. The investigation in this paper begins with examining significant impacts in the energy industry and their impact on progress toward sustainability. The empirical findings that the CO₂ emissions reduction objectives in long-term development plans had a considerable impact on energy saving and emissions reduction, lowering energy consumption intensity by 3.33% and carbon emission intensity by 4.23% between 2010 and 2019. Besides, the results and long and short run techniques are built to describe the Sustainable Development Goals interface, with the result revealing that Sustainable Development Goals enhance the green economic recovery performance. Furthermore, this study recommends that the key natural resources and green economic recovery policies to overcome the climate change impacts by COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on SMEs and travel agencies: The critical role of corporate social responsibility

This study is based on the system resilience framework, which outlines the aspects of community behavior, employees, the environment, history, and corporate social responsibility. We used a partial least squares structural equation model to evaluate a sample of 300 Vietnamese SMEs and travel agencies. We discovered that SMEs' strategies positively influence performance and are co-created with corporate social responsibility. The dependability of internal integrity was then determined. The empirical results showed that the overall confidence index for all facilities ranged from 0.70 to 0.95, with values ranging from 0.809 to 0.931. Furthermore, the A and Cronbach's alpha reliability values ranged from 0.70 to 0.90. As a result, the reliability of internal consistency was established. The convergence validity of the configurations was assessed by comparing the extracted mean values of variance (AVE), which, for all configurations, exceeded the limit of 0.50. This approach emphasizes the impact of corporate social responsibility practices on communities, the environment, and heritage.

Agent-based modeling and life cycle dynamics of COVID-19-related online collective actions

The outbreak of COVID-19 has greatly threatened global public health and produced social problems, which includes relative online collective actions. Based on the life cycle law, focusing on the life cycle process of COVID-19 online collective actions, we carried out both macro-level analysis (big data mining) and micro-level behaviors (Agent-Based Modeling) on pandemic-related online collective actions. We collected 138 related online events with macro-level big data characteristics, and used Agent-Based Modeling to capture micro-level individual behaviors of netizens. We set two kinds of movable agents, Hots (events) and Netizens (individuals), which behave smartly and autonomously. Based on multiple simulations and parametric traversal, we obtained the optimal parameter solution. Under the optimal solutions, we repeated simulations by ten times, and took the mean values as robust outcomes. Simulation outcomes well match the real big data of life cycle trends, and validity and robustness can be achieved. According to multiple criteria (spans, peaks, ratios, and distributions), the fitness between simulations and real big data has been substantially supported. Therefore, our Agent-Based Modeling well grasps the micro-level mechanisms of real-world individuals (netizens), based on which we can predict individual behaviors of netizens and big data trends of specific online events. Based on our model, it is feasible to model, calculate, and even predict evolutionary dynamics and life cycles trends of online collective actions. It facilitates public administrations and social governance.

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.

A study of the transformation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by interferon-gamma

OBJECTIVES

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exist in almost all tissues. Their unique nature is completed by their immunomodulatory functions, holding promise for the treatment of many diseases. An inflammatory environment precedes the immunosuppressive abilities of MSCs and this study was intended to better understand how umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSCs) react to the process of inflammation, regarding their basic characteristics and behavior when primed with the key pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interferon-γ (IFNγ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human MSCs from the umbilical cord were isolated, expanded, and treated with IFNγ. Primed cells were analyzed to define their ability to form colonies, their morphology, differentiation potential, proliferation, and apoptosis rate.

RESULTS

UCMSCs treated with IFNγ changed their fibroblast-like morphology and retained the expression of typical MSCs markers. IFNγ treated UCMSCs had significantly higher MFI levels regarding the expression of HLA-I (980.43 ± 556.64) and PD-L1 (598.04 ± 416.90) compared with the control cells (144.97 ± 78.5 and 122.05 ± 103.83, respectively; P<0.01). Under the influence of IFNγ, the cells had a lower population doubling time compared with the control cultures (50.345 ± 9.155 versus 61.135 ± 21.110, respectively; P<0.01) and higher numbers of colony-forming unit-fibroblasts (26.0 ± 12.2 versus 10.2 ± 8.0, respectively; P<0.05). The primed MSCs could not undergo osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. IFNγ increased the percentage of cells in the apoptotic state on day eight (29.470 ± 6.59 versus 15.708 ± 6.190, respectively; P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The properties of UCMSCs can be influenced by the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ.

Effect of using different co-ligands during 99mTc-labeling of J18 peptide on SK-MES-1 cell binding and tumor targeting

OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. The goal of this study is to evaluate in vitro and in vivo tumor targeting behavior of [^99mTc]Tc -HYNIC-(Ser)₃-J18 in lung carcinoma (SK-MES-1)-bearing mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The J18 (RSLWSDFYASASRGP) peptide was conjugated with hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC) via three serine amino acids as a linker at the peptide's N-terminal and then labeled with technetium-99m using tricine and tricine/EDDA as the co-ligands. The radiolabeled peptides were assessed for in vitro receptor binding, specific binding, and saturation affinity. In vivo biodistribution studies were also performed for ^99mTc-peptide 1 (tricine co-ligand) and ^99mTc-peptide 2 (tricine/EDDA coligands) in nude mice bearing SK-MES-1 xenograft tumors.

RESULTS

In vitro studies showed high specific binding for ^99mTc-peptide 1 in SKMES-1 cells compared with ^99mTc-peptide 2 (11.5 vs. 4.5). The K_D values for ^99mTc-peptide 1 and ^99mTc-peptide 2 were reported to be 3.1±0.3 nM and 3.46 ± 0.8 nM, respectively. The biodistribution study also showed high significant tumor to muscle ratios of 5.1 and 6.18 for ^99mTc-peptide 1 at 1 and 2 hr after injection, respectively, while these ratios were 3.81 and 5.18 for peptide 2, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Overall, ^99mTc-labeled J18 peptide in the presence of tricine as co-ligand has better in vitro and in vivo tumor targeting properties in SK-MES-1 cells than tricine/EDDA co-ligands. These findings show that the ^99mTc-labeled J18 peptide is a good candidate for lung carcinoma targeting.

Case Report: Administration of Amniotic Fluid-Derived Nanoparticles in Three Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients

Rationale/Objectives: A human coronavirus (HCoV-19) has caused the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop new interventions to suppress the excessive immune response, protect alveolar function, and repair lung and systemic organ damage. Zofin (previously known as Organicell Flow) is a novel therapeutic that is derived from the soluble and nanoparticle fraction (extracellular vesicles and exosomes) of human amniotic fluid. Here within, we present the clinical outcomes after Zofin treatment in three critically ill patients suffering from severe, multi-organ complications induced by COVID-19 infection. All patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, developed respiratory failure, and were hospitalized for more than 40 days.

Methods: Zofin was administered to patients concurrently with ongoing medical care who were monitored for 28-days post-therapy. SOFA score assessment, chest X-rays, and inflammatory biomarker testing was performed.

Main Results: There were no adverse events associated with the therapy. The patients showed improvements in ICU clinical status and experienced respiratory improvements. Acute delirium experienced by patients completely resolved and inflammatory biomarkers improved.

Conclusions: Primary outcomes demonstrate the therapy was safe, accessible, and feasible. This is the first demonstration of human amniotic fluid-derived nanoparticles as a safe and potentially efficacious therapeutic treatment for respiratory failure induced by COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 and its Therapeutics: Special Emphasis on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Based Therapy

The novel virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province of China. This virus disseminated rapidly and reached to an unprecedented pandemic proportion in more than 213 nations with a large number of fatalities. The hypersecretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines is the main cause of mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19, therefore strategies that avert the cytokine storm may play a crucial role in abating the severity of COVID-19. This review highlights the minute details of SARS-CoV-2, its genomic organization, genomic variations within structural and non-structural proteins and viral progression mechanism in human beings. The approaches like antiviral strategies are discussed, including drugs that obstruct viral propagation and suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokines. This compilation emphasizes Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) based therapy alone or in combination with other therapeutics as an attractive curative approach for COVID-19 pandemic. The MSCs and its secretome, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have various capabilities, for instance, immunomodulation, regeneration, antimicrobial properties, potential for attenuating the cytokine storm and bare minimum chances of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. The immunomodulatory property of MSCs affects inflammatory state and regulates immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, as of now, there is no WHO-approved MSCs based therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 infection.

A brief review on potential application of mesenchymal stem cell and secretome in combating mortality and morbidity in COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is typically associated with severe respiratory distress and has claimed more than 525,000 lives already. The most fearful aspect is the unavailability of any concrete guidelines and treatment or protective strategies for reducing mortality or morbidity caused by this virus. Repurposing of drugs, antivirals, convalescent plasma and neutralizing antibodies are being considered for treatment but are still questionable in lieu of the conflicting data, study design and induction of secondary infections. Stem cell therapy has seen substantial advancements over the past decade for the treatment of various diseases including pulmonary disorders with severe complications similar to COVID-19. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received particular attention as a potential therapeutic modality for SARS-CoV2 infection due to their ability to inhibit cytokine storm, a hallmark of severe COVID-19. MSCs secretion of trophic factors and extracellular vesicles mediated intercellular signaling are considered as principal contributing factors for tissue recovery. Although, recent preliminary studies have established the safety and efficacy of these cells without any severe secondary complications in the treatment of SARS-CoV2 infection, the rational use of MSCs on a large scale would still require additional relevant clinical investigations and validation of postulated mechanisms of these cells. This review presents the current clinical findings and update on the potential use of stem cell therapy and its secretome in combating the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Mesenchymal stem cells as living anti-inflammatory therapy for COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is growing at an exponential rate worldwide. Manifestations of this disease are heterogeneous; however, advanced cases often exhibit various acute respiratory distress syndrome-like symptoms, systemic inflammatory reactions, coagulopathy, and organ involvements. A common theme in advanced COVID-19 is unrestrained immune activation, classically referred to as a “cytokine storm”, as well as deficiencies in immune regulatory mechanisms such as T regulatory cells. While mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) themselves are objects of cytokine regulation, they can secrete cytokines to modulate immune cells by inducing anti-inflammatory regulatory Treg cells, macrophages and neutrophils; and by reducing the activation of T and B cells, dendritic and nature killer cells. Consequently, they have therapeutic potential for treating severe cases of COVID-19. Here we discuss the unique ability of MSCs, to act as a “living anti-inflammatory”, which can “rebalance” the cytokine/immune responses to restore equilibrium. We also discuss current MSC trials and present different concepts for optimization of MSC therapy in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome. 

The Potential Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Exosomes as Immunomodulatory Agents for COVID-19 Patients

A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing lethal acute respiratory disease emerged in December 2019. The World Health Organization named this disease "COVID-19" and declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Many studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their exosomes (MSCs-Exo), which are isolated from allogenic bone marrow stem cells, significantly lower the risk of alveolar inflammation and other pathological conditions associated with distinct lung injuries. For example, in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia patients, MSCs-Exo and MSCs provide similar healing properties and some clinical trials have used cell-based inhalation therapy which show great promise. MSCs and MSCs-Exo have shown potential in clinical trials as a therapeutic tool for severely affected COVID-19 patients when compared to other cell-based therapies, which may face challenges like the cells' sticking to the respiratory tract epithelia during administration. However, the use of MSCs or MSCs-Exo for treating COVID-19 should strictly adhere to the appropriate manufacturing practices, quality control measurements, preclinical safety and efficacy data, and the proper ethical regulations. This review highlights the available clinical trials that support the therapeutic potential of MSCs or MSCs-Exo in severely affected COVID-19 patients.