Title:Elucidating the Pivotal Role of Immune Players in the Management of COVID-19: Focus on Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Inflammation
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Author(s): Seidu A. Richard*, Sylvanus Kampo, Marian Sackey, Maite Esquijarosa Hechavarria, Alexis D.B. Buunaaim, Eugene Dogkotenge Kuugbee and Thomas Winsum Anabah
Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine, Princefield University, P. O. Box MA128, Ho,Ghana
Keywords:
CoV-19, COVID-19, inflammation, immunotherapy, MSCs, pneumonia.
Abstract: The world is currently engulfed with a viral disease with no cure. Thus, far, millions of people
are infected with the virus across the length and breadth of the world, with thousands losing their
lives each passing day. The WHO in February 2020 classified the virus as a coronavirus and the name
Coronavirus-19 (CoV-19) was offered to the virus. The disease caused by the virus was termed
coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is associated with elevation of
several immune players as well as inflammatory factors which contribute to cytokine storms. Currently,
the detection of CoV-19 RNA is through reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR).
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of suppressing several kinds of cytokines via the
paracrine secretion system. Therefore, MSCs therapy could be game changer in the treatment of the
current COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, intravenous IG may be capable of suppressing the high expression
of IL-6 by the CoV-19 resulting in lessen disease burden. Anti-inflammatory medications like,
corticosteroids, tocilizumab, glycyrrhetinic acid, as well as etoposide may be very advantageous in
decreasing the COVID-19 burden because their mode of action targets the cytokine storms initiated by
the CoV-19. It is important to indicate that, these medications do not target the virus itself. Therefore,
potent CoV-19 anti-viral medications are needed to completely cure patients with COVID-19. Furthermore,
a vaccine is urgently needed to stop the spread of the virus. This review, therefore, elucidates
the immune players in the management of COVID-19; focusing principally on MSCs and inflammatory
mediators.
