The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has placed a global public burden on health authorities. Although the virological characteristics and pathogenesis of COVID-19 has been largely clarified, there is currently no specific therapeutic measure. In severe cases, acute SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to immune disorders and damage to both the adaptive and innate immune responses. Having roles in immune regulation and regeneration, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) serving as a therapeutic option may regulate the over-activated inflammatory response and promote recovery of lung damage. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of MSC-therapy clinical trials has been conducted. The findings indicate that MSC treatment not only significantly reduces lung damage, but also improves patient recovery with safety and good immune tolerance. Herein, we summarize the recent progress in MSC therapy for COVID-19 and highlight the challenges in the field.

由严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起的 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 给卫生当局带来了全球公共负担。尽管 COVID-19 的病毒学特征和发病机制已在很大程度上阐明，但目前尚无具体的治疗措施。在严重的情况下，急性 SARS-CoV-2 感染会导致免疫紊乱并损害适应性和先天免疫反应。间充质干细胞 (MSCs) 在免疫调节和再生中发挥作用，作为一种治疗选择，可以调节过度激活的炎症反应并促进肺损伤的恢复。自 COVID-19 大流行爆发以来，已经进行了一系列 MSC 治疗临床试验。研究结果表明，MSC 治疗不仅显着减少了肺损伤，还能以安全性和良好的免疫耐受性改善患者的康复。在此，我们总结了 MSC 治疗 COVID-19 的最新进展，并强调了该领域的挑战。