Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) constitute a heterogeneous population of stromal cells with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties that support their therapeutic use. MSCs isolated from many tissue sources replicate vigorously in vitro and maintain their main biological properties allowing their widespread clinical application. To date, most MSC-based preclinical and clinical trials targeted immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, MSCs have antiviral properties and have been used in the treatment of various viral infections in the last years. Here, we revised in detail the biological properties of MSCs and their preclinical and clinical applications in viral diseases, including the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19). Notably, rapidly increasing numbers of MSC-based therapies for COVID-19 have recently been reported. MSCs are theoretically capable of reducing inflammation and promote lung regeneration in severe COVID-19 patients. We critically discuss the rationale, advantages and disadvantages of MSC-based therapies for viral infections and also specifically for COVID-19 and point out some directions in this field. Finally, we argue that MSC-based therapy may be a promising therapeutic strategy for severe COVID-19 and other emergent respiratory tract viral infections, beyond the viral infection diseases in which MSCs have already been clinically applied.

间充质基质细胞 (MSCs) 构成了一个异质的基质细胞群，具有支持其治疗用途的免疫调节和再生特性。从许多组织来源中分离出来的 MSC 在体外大量复制并保持其主要生物学特性，从而使其广泛应用于临床。迄今为止，大多数基于 MSC 的临床前和临床试验都针对免疫介导和炎症性疾病。然而，间充质干细胞具有抗病毒特性，并在过去几年被用于治疗各种病毒感染。在这里，我们详细修订了 MSCs 的生物学特性及其在病毒性疾病中的临床前和临床应用，包括由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 感染 (COVID-19) 引起的疾病。尤其，最近报道了迅速增加数量的基于 MSC 的 COVID-19 疗法。MSCs 理论上能够减轻 COVID-19 重症患者的炎症并促进肺再生。我们批判性地讨论了基于 MSC 的病毒感染疗法以及针对 COVID-19 的基本原理、优点和缺点，并指出了该领域的一些方向。最后，我们认为基于 MSC 的治疗可能是治疗严重 COVID-19 和其他紧急呼吸道病毒感染的有希望的治疗策略，超出了 MSC 已经临床应用的病毒感染疾病。基于 MSC 的病毒感染疗法以及针对 COVID-19 疗法的优缺点，并指出了该领域的一些方向。最后，我们认为基于 MSC 的治疗可能是治疗严重 COVID-19 和其他紧急呼吸道病毒感染的有希望的治疗策略，超出了 MSC 已经临床应用的病毒感染疾病。基于 MSC 的病毒感染疗法以及针对 COVID-19 疗法的优缺点，并指出了该领域的一些方向。最后，我们认为基于 MSC 的治疗可能是治疗严重 COVID-19 和其他紧急呼吸道病毒感染的有希望的治疗策略，超出了 MSC 已经临床应用的病毒感染疾病。