SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Lung Regeneration.
Fuxiaonan ZhaoQingwen MaQing YueHuaiyong ChenPublished in: Clinical microbiology reviews (2022)
The lung is the primary site of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced immunopathology whereby the virus enters the host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Sophisticated regeneration and repair programs exist in the lungs to replenish injured cell populations. However, known resident stem/progenitor cells have been demonstrated to express ACE2, raising a substantial concern regarding the long-term consequences of impaired lung regeneration after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, clinical treatments may also affect lung repair from antiviral drug candidates to mechanical ventilation. In this review, we highlight how SARS-CoV-2 disrupts a program that governs lung homeostasis. We also summarize the current efforts of targeted therapy and supportive treatments for COVID-19 patients. In addition, we discuss the pros and cons of cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells or resident lung epithelial stem/progenitor cells in preventing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. We propose that, in addition to symptomatic treatments being developed and applied in the clinic, targeting lung regeneration is also essential to restore lung homeostasis in COVID-19 patients.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- cell therapy
- stem cells
- mesenchymal stem cells
- angiotensin converting enzyme
- mechanical ventilation
- coronavirus disease
- induced apoptosis
- primary care
- respiratory failure
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- emergency department
- public health
- single cell
- wound healing
- cell death
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- aortic dissection