Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Secretome in the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Figure 2

Molecular mechanisms responsible for MSC-based attenuation of ARDS. MSCs, in juxtacrine (cell-to cell-contact dependent) and paracrine manner (through the production of immunomodulatory factors), alleviate lung inflammation and ARDS by suppressing proliferation and effector functions of inflammatory M1 macrophages and Th1 and Th17 cells (a) and by inducing generation of tolerogenic DCs and expansion of immunosuppressive Tregs (b). Through the production of angiomodulatory factors, MSCs improve oxygen supply enabling enhanced regeneration and functional recovery from ARDS.