Human mesenchymal stromal cells do not express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and are not permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

ABSTRACT: Anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory therapies have been proposed for the treatment of COVID-19 and its most serious complications. Among others, the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is under investigation given their well-documented anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, some critical issues regarding the possibility that MSCs could be infected by the virus have been raised. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) are the main host cell factors for the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), entry, but so far it is unclear if human MSCs do or do not express these two proteins. To elucidate these important aspects, we evaluated if human MSCs from both fetal and adult tissues constitutive

SUBMITTER: Avanzini MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7753681 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature