Recommended reading:
1. 2020 iPS cell research progress review
2. Experimental materials related to iPS cell reprogramming experiments
Dr. Camilo Ricordi, Director of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Cell Transplantation Center, Miller School of Medicine, Miami University, United States, and his team of international collaborators are reporting a breakthrough randomized controlled Linchuan result showing that umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC -MSC) infusion safely reduces the risk of death for the most severe COVID-19 patients and speeds up recovery time. Dr. Ricordi’s peer-reviewed paper was published online in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine on January 5, 2021. The title of the paper is “Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: A double-blind, phase 1/2a , randomized controlled trial".
Picture from Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2018, doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00259.
This clinical trial was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April last year and was initiated by The Cure Alliance. The Therapeutics Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization composed of research scientists, established by Dr. Ricordi ten years ago, for scientists around the world to share knowledge and accelerate the cure of all diseases. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, all the focus was on ending the suffering caused by COVID-19. Dr. Ricordi created a “mini-Manhattan project”. As a result, this important new weapon was provided in the arsenal of fighting COVID-19. Especially at this critical moment, the distribution of new vaccines Expectations are slow, and infection rates and deaths are still rising sharply.
This paper describes the results of a study of 24 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at the Jackson Memorial Hospital of the University of Miami. These patients developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a dangerous and often fatal complication. It is characterized by severe inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Each patient received two infusions of mesenchymal stem cells or placebo, several days apart.
Dr. Ricordi said, “This is a double-blind study. Doctors and patients do not know who receives mesenchymal stem cell therapy and who receives placebo.”
One month later, 100% of patients receiving UC-MSC infusion (<85 Years old) survived, while in the control group, this number was only 42%. These researchers found that this treatment was safe and there were no serious adverse events associated with UC-MSC infusion.
Dr. Ricordi's team also reported that patients in the treatment group recovered faster. More than half of patients who received UC-MSC infusion recovered within two weeks and were discharged home. More than 80% of the treatment group recovered before the 30th day, while less than 37% of the control group.
Dr. Ricordi said, “This is like a smart bomb technology in the lungs, which can restore the normal immune response and reverse life-threatening complications.”
Just a umbilical cord donated from a caesarean section can produce up to 10,000 doses. UC-MSC is used for COVID-19 treatment.
The first author of the paper and Dr. Giacomo Lanzoni, a research assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, said, "Our results confirm the powerful anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of UC-MSC. These cells significantly inhibited.' 'Cytokine storm', which is a sign of severe COVID-19."
He added, "These clinical results are not only essential for the treatment of COVID-19, but also for the treatment of other diseases characterized by abnormal and excessive inflammatory immune responses. Important, such as autoimmune type 1 diabetes. We look forward to applying these cells to clinical trials to prevent the progression of type 1 diabetes."
Dr. Ricordi’s core team includes experts in stem cells, lung diseases, and intensive care Scientists, but diabetes researchers started to crack the code. At the Diabetes Research Institute of Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Dr. Ricordi and his colleagues have been working with Chinese scientists to study the use of UC-MSC to treat type 1 diabetes. With the outbreak of COVID-19, he learned that these collaborators are now testing UC-MSC treatment on severe COVID-19 patients, and they report success. Soon thereafter, Israeli researchers also reported that compared with patients who did not receive UC-MSC treatment, the survival rate and recovery rate of patients receiving UC-MSC treatment was as high as 100%. However, none of them is a randomized clinical trial.
The potential of UC-MSC therapy is undoubtedly promising. As we all know, UC-MSC helps correct the wrong immune response and inflammatory response. They also have antibacterial activity and have been shown to promote tissue regeneration.
More importantly, when mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are injected intravenously, they naturally migrate to the lungs. This is where COVID-19 patients with life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome need treatment. (Bioon.com)
参考资料：
1.Giacomo Lanzoni et al. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for COVID‐19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: A double‐blind, phase 1/2a, randomized controlled trial. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2021, doi:10.1002/sctm.20-0472.
2.UC-MSC transfusion helps repair COVID-19 damage in severe cases
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/tca-ut010321.php