The versatility of mesenchymal stem cells: From regenerative medicine to COVID, what is next?

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play key roles in regenerative medicine by promoting tissue healing. MSCs can be isolated from different adult tissues and they are able to differentiate into several lineages. Due to their antiinflammatory, angiogenic and immune-modulatory properties, MSCs are suitable for tissue engineering applications and, when associated with biomaterials, their benefits can be improved. Moreover, recently, MSCs have been studied for new clinical applications, such as in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. MSCs regenerative potential has been attributed to their secretome, which comprises extracellular matrix, soluble proteins and several elements, including the release of extracellular vesicles. Even though, in order to explore all their therapeutic potential, it is still necessary to advance in the investigation of their basic cell biology characteristics.