Mesenchymal stem cells: a new perspective in the treatment of coronavirus induced pneumonia

The biology of stem cells is one of the most dynamic and promising fields in the biological sciences, as it is the basis for the development of organisms. Its biological complexity has demanded efforts from several lines of research aiming mainly at its therapeutic use. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), after their infusion into the recipient organism, tend to accumulate in the lung, improving the microenvironment, protecting the epithelial cells of the alveoli and preventing the formation of fibrosis in order to restore the function of the lungs. Through safe and effective processes to suppress inflammatory processes and repair lung tissue, MSCs appear as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In this work, we address the state of the art and the therapeutic potential of MSCs in the treatment of patients affected by pneumonia inCOVID-19. Keywords: Coronavirus infections; Coronavirus; Mesenchymal stem cells; Pneumonia; Respiratory diseases. A biologia das celulas-tronco e um dos campos mais dinamicos e promissores das ciencias biologicas, pois e a base do desenvolvimento dos organismos. Sua complexidade biologica vem demandando esforcos de diversas linhas de pesquisa visando principalmente sua utilizacao terapeutica. As celulas-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs), apos sua infusao no organismo receptor, tendem a se acumular no pulmao melhorando o microambiente, protegendo as celulas epiteliais dos alveolos e prevenindo a formacao de fibrose de forma a restaurar a funcao dos pulmoes. Por meio dos processos seguros e eficazes de supressao dos processos inflamatorios e reparacao do tecido pulmonar, as CTMs surgem como uma promissora abordagem terapeutica para o tratamento de doencas respiratorias. Neste trabalho abordamos o estado da arte e o potencial terapeutico das CTMs no tratamento de pacientes acometidos por pneumonia em decorrencia da COVID-19. Descritores: Infeccoes por coronavirus; Coronavirus; Celulastronco mesenquimais; Pneumonia; Doencas respiratorias.