Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, the Immunological Key Words of Severe COVID-19. Is There a Role for Stem Cell Transplantation?

The outcomes of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vary depending on the age, health status and sex of an individual, ranging from asymptomatic to lethal. From an immunologic viewpoint, the final severe lung damage observed in COVID-19 should be caused by cytokine storm, driven mainly by interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, which immunopathogenic status precedes this cytokine storm and why the male older population is more severely affected, are currently unanswered questions. The aging of the immune system, i.e., immunosenescence, closely associated with a low-grade inflammatory status called inflammageing, should play a key role. The remodeling of both innate and adaptive immune response observed with aging can partly explain the age gradient in severity and mortality of COVID-19. This review discusses how aging impacts the immune response to the virus, focusing on possible strategies to rejuvenate the immune system with stem cell-based therapies. Indeed, due to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a worth-considering option against COVID-19 adverse outcomes.

Automated summary

The severity of COVID-19 outcomes varies depending on individual factors like age, health status, and gender. Immunosenescence and inflammageing may play a key role in the progression of the disease, while stem cell-based therapies, especially multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, show promise in improving immune response and reducing inflammation.