The Disillusioned Comfort with COVID-19 and the Potential of Convalescent Plasma and Cell Therapy

Cell Transplant. 2020 Jan-Dec:29:963689720940719. doi: 10.1177/0963689720940719.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 is highly infectious, which can lead to acute and chronic debilitating symptoms, as well as mortality. The advent of safe and effective vaccines or antiviral drugs remains distant in the future. Practical public health measures, such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing a face mask, are the current recommended guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for limiting the spread of the virus. Weakened immune system and aberrant inflammation represent a major pathological symptom of COVID-19 patients. Based on the unique immunomodulatory properties of both convalescent plasma and stem cells, we discuss here their potential use for treating COVID-19.

Keywords: convalescent plasma; immunoglobulin; mesenchymal stem cells; vaccine; virus.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive / methods
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / immunology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy*
  • Public Health Practice
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing