Graphical abstract Highlights • ACE2 + stem cells of the respiratory tracts are likely involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. • Dysregulatiton of immune response is underlying the physiopathology of fata ARDS and ALI. • MSCs appear to be a promising cell therapy because they favourably modulate the immune response to reduce lung injury. • Due to viral infection targeting pulmonary stem cells, lung might loss endogenous repair capability. • Transplantation of exogenous stem cells may be needed to facilitate the regeneration of lung tissue. • Vaccines, NK cells and CTLs may offer urgent therapeutics and prevention measures of CoV-SARS-2 reemergence. The emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and its rapid national and international spread have created a global health emergency. The resemblance with SARS-CoV in spike protein suggests that SARS-CoV-2 employs spike–driven entry into angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing cells. From a stem cell perspective, this review focuses on the possible involvement of ACE2 + stem/progenitor cells from both the upper and lower respiratory tracts in coronavirus infection. Viral infection-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury occur because of dysregulation of the immune response. Mesenchymal stem cells appear to be a promising cell therapy given that they favorably modulate the immune response to reduce lung injury. The use of exogenous stem cells may lead to lung repair. Therefore, intervention by transplantation of exogenous stem cells may be required to replace, repair, remodel, and regenerate lung tissue in survivors infected with coronavirus. Ultimately, vaccines, natural killer cells and induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes may offer off-the-shelf therapeutics for preventing coronavirus reemergence.
【저자키워드】 stem cells, Infection, immunomodulation, repair, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2,