Stem Cells for COVID-19: The injection of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells safely reduces the risk of death. Accelerates the recovery time of the most severe COVID-19 patients. This is based on an innovative study conducted by Researchers at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. Published in the journal STEM CELLS Translational Medicine.
The study focused on 24 patients hospitalized at the University of Miami or Jackson Memorial Hospital. All patients were hospitalized for COVID-19. They developed severe respiratory difficulties.
Each received two injections, days apart, of mesenchymal stem cells or a placebo. “It was a double-blind study. Neither the doctors nor the patients knew the contents of the injection.” Explained Camillo Ricordi, one of the study’s lead authors. “We administered two injections of 100 million stem cells over three days. A total of 200 million cells in each subject in the treatment group.”
The researchers found that the treatment was safe, with no serious adverse effects.
One month later, the survival rate of patients in the stem cell-treated group was 91 percent. In the other group, it was 42 percent.
Among patients under 85 years old, all treated with mesenchymal stem cells survived the month. Ricordi and the other researchers also noted that more than half of the patients treated with mesenchymal stem cells recovered and returned home within two weeks after the last treatment. 80 percent of the treatment group had recovered by day 30.
“The umbilical cord contains progenitor stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells. These can be expanded and provide therapeutic doses for more than 10,000 patients from a single umbilical cord. It is a unique resource of cells being investigated for possible use in cellular therapy applications whenever the immune or inflammatory response needs to be modulated,” he said.
Mesenchymal Cells to Restore Normal Immune Response
Mesenchymal cells not only correct deviated immune and inflammatory responses but also promote tissue regeneration. “The results are of vital importance not only for COVID-19 but also for other diseases characterized by aberrant and hyperinflammatory immune responses, such as type 1 autoimmune diabetes.”
When administered intravenously, mesenchymal stem cells naturally migrate to the lungs. This is where therapy is needed in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is a dangerous complication associated with severe inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Currently, multiple studies with stem cells in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia are underway in various countries worldwide. These studies propose the use of various sources of stem cells such as bone marrow, fat, or placenta. The results are particularly relevant and promising.
In conclusion
In conclusion, the use of mesenchymal stem cells in treating severe cases of COVID-19 shows promising results, offering a safe and effective treatment option. For more information on stem cells and their potential applications, we invite you to read our article “What Are Stem Cells?” Remember, you can always reach out to Centro Medico Eternal for consultations and further information.
