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

Table 1

The list of the drugs which are tested as therapeutic agents for the treatment of COVID-19.

Therapeutic agent(s)	Mechanism of action	Expected therapeutic effect	Ref. no.
Antiviral drugs
Remdesivir	Inhibition of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase	Suppressed spreading of SARS-CoV-2	[7–14]
Sofosbuvir
Ribavirin
Mefuparib	Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 inhibitor	Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication	[11]
Toremifene	Inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein	Inhibition of viral entry in AT2 cells	[11]
Camostat; Nafamostat	Inhibitor of TMPRSS2	Suppressed spreading of SARS-CoV-2	[9, 10]
IFN-β-1b	Activation of interferon-stimulated genes in AT2 and immune cells	Suppressed replication and spreading of SARS-CoV-2	[7–10]
IVIG	Antibody-mediated neutralization of SARS-CoV-2	Inhibition of viral entry in AT2 cells	[11]
Immunomodulatory drugs
Dexamethasone	Activation of histone deacetylase	Reduction of the harmful effects of cytokine storm	[7–11]
Sarilumab	Inhibition of IL-6:IL-6R signaling	Attenuation of IL-6-driven inflammation	[8–10]
Tocilizumab
Anakinra	Inhibition of IL-1:IL-1R signaling	Attenuation of IL-1-driven inflammation	[12]
Baricitinib	Janus kinases inhibitor	Prevention of dysregulated cytokine production	[11]
Melatonine	Upregulation of superoxide dismutase; downregulation of nitric oxide synthase; suppression of NF-κB expression	Inhibition of cytokine storm	[11]
Combined therapy
Remdesivir+Dexamethasone			[10, 11]
IVIG+IFN-β+Dexamethasone			[11]
Remdesivir+Baricitinib			[10, 11]
IFN-β-1b+Ribavirin			[11–14]

Abbreviations: ACE2: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; TMPRSS2: transmembrane protease serine 2; AT2: alveolar type II cells; IFN-β: interferon beta; IVIG: intravenous immunoglobulins; IL-6R: interleukin 6 receptor; IL-1: interleukin 1 receptor; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-B.