1. Safety and efficacy of placental mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicle in severe COVID-19 patients: Phase I & II Clinical Trials
- Author
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Mehdi Jahedi Zargar, Saeed Heidari Keshel, Saeid Kaviani, Mohammad Zahraei, Azadeh Izadyari Aghmiuni, Ali Amir Savadkoohi, Hamidreza Jamaati, Mohammad Samet, Mahsa Soufizomorrod, Mina Soufi Zomorrod, Faeze Sadat Heidari, Mohamad Reza Mirjalili, Payam Tabarsi, Mohammadreza Soroush, Rasoul Aliannejad, Mojtaba Javani, Hosein Shafiii, Mohammad Vasei, and Masoud Soleimani
- Subjects
covid‐19 ,extracellular vesicles ,mesenchymal stromal cell ,placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell ,acute respiratory distress syndrome ,Human anatomy ,QM1-695 - Abstract
Introduction: Most mortality in COVID-19 cases was due to the increased inflammatory cytokines and cytokine storm. As mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties, this study assessed the therapeutic effects of placental MSC-derived extracellular vesicles on the inflammation and pulmonary injury caused by COVID-19. Methods: The study was carried out in phases I (safety study, 101 patients) and II (efficacy study, 80 patients) in a randomized, double-blind study at four hospital centers from April 2021 to August 2021. In addition to standard treatments, 15 mL of normal saline solution containing 15×109 vesicles was injected intravenously for five consecutive days. Results: No reaction or adverse events were observed in any patients. In the intervention group, after 5 days of treatment, patients’ clinical status and oxygenation improved, and 75% of patients presented an increased SpO2 after 5 days. Besides, inflammatory parameters assessment indicated a 21% decrease in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and a 54% reduction in C-reactive protein after day five of the intervention. Conclusion: PMSC-derived extracellular vesicles were safe and well-tolerated, down-regulated cytokine storms, and restored oxygenation. Thus, they can be considered a promising therapeutic candidate for severe COVID-19.
- Published
- 2022