Transplantation of ACE2- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves the Outcome of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

• DOI: 10.14336/ad.2020.0228
• Publication Date: 2020-03-13T15:44:15Z
• Authors: Zikuan Leng; Rongjia Zhu; Wei Hou; Yingmei Feng; Yanlei Yang; Qin Han; Guangliang Shan; Fanyan Meng; Dongshu Du; Shihua Wang; Junfen Fan; Wenjing Wang; Luchan Deng; Hongbo Shi; Hongjun Li; Zhongjie Hu; Fengchun Zhang; Jinming Gao; Hongjian Liu; Xiaoxia Li; Yangyang Zhao; Kan Yin; Xijing He; Zhengchao Gao; Yibin Wang; Bo Yang; Ronghua Jin; Ilia Stambler; Lee Wei Lim; Huanxing Su; Alexey Moskalev; Antonio Cano; Sasanka Chakrabarti; Kyung-Jin Min; Georgina Ellison-...; Calogero Caruso; Kunlin Jin; Robert Chunhua Zhao
• Keywords: Cytokine Storm; Coronavirus

A coronavirus (HCoV-19) has caused the novel disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China. Preventing and reversing cytokine storm may be key to save patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown possess a comprehensive powerful immunomodulatory function. This study aims investigate whether MSC transplantation improves outcome of 7 enrolled pneumonia Beijing YouAn Hospital, China, from Jan 23, 2020 Feb 16, 2020. The clinical outcomes, as well changes inflammatory immune function levels adverse effects were assessed for 14 days after injection. MSCs could cure or significantly improve functional outcomes seven without observed effects. pulmonary symptoms these improved 2 transplantation. Among them, two common one patient recovered discharged 10 treatment. After treatment, peripheral lymphocytes increased, C-reactive protein decreased, overactivated cytokine-secreting CXCR3+CD4+ T cells, CXCR3+CD8+ CXCR3+ NK disappeared 3-6 days. In addition, group CD14+CD11c+CD11b^mid regulatory DC cell population dramatically increased. Meanwhile, level TNF-α was while IL-10 increased treatment compared placebo control group. Furthermore, gene expression profile showed ACE2^- TMPRSS2^- which indicated are free infection. Thus, intravenous safe effective pneumonia, especially critically condition.