Different kinds of stem cells in the development of SARS-CoV-2 treatments

Figure 1 Stem cells in the development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 treatments. Different kinds of stem cells (SCs), such as embryonic, mesenchymal, or artificial induced pluripotent SCs (iPSCs) or their products (SC exosomes), have been used in clinical trials and basic research to understand severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) behavior in humans. For example, Embryonic SCs (which can be differentiated in lung airway, lung alveolar, and intestinal epithelial cells or used for organoid development) and artificial iPSCs have been used in the progress of organogenesis knowledge, the comprehension of genetic alterations, pharmacological treatments or interactions, and the combination of SARS-CoV-2 in different kinds of cells (infection model). Mesenchymal SCs and SC exosomes have mainly been used in clinical trials as immunoregulators, and some authors have also stated their regeneration capability. SCs: Stem cells; iPSCs: Induced pluripotent SCs; SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; ESCs: Embryonic stem cells; MSCs: Mesenchymal SCs.