Mesenchymal stem cells and exosome therapy for COVID-19: current status and future perspective.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the main cause for the COVID-19 infection-related morbidity and mortality. Recent clinical evidences suggest increased level of cytokines and chemokines targeting lung tissue as a prominent etiological factor. The immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as the alternative therapy for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is well known.