早期肠内营养联合益生菌对急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者预后的影响

探讨早期肠内营养联合益生菌对急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）患者预后的影响,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。

回顾性分析2018年6月至2020年12月我院急诊ICU收治的86例中重度ARDS患者的临床资料,按随机数字法将患者分为观察组（n = 48例）和对照组（n = 38例）。观察组患者在早期肠内营养基础上联合益生菌治疗,对照组患者采用常规治疗+早期肠内营养进行治疗。统计两组患者性别、年龄、既往基础疾病、原发疾病（包括肺内和肺外）、APACHE Ⅱ评分、SOFA评分、氧合指数、机械通气天数、脱机拔管成功率、ICU以及总的住院天数、28 d病死率等情况。

观察组患者机械通气时间短于对照组[（10.34±2.16）d vs （14.63±3.27）d,P = 0.020]。观察组患者脱机拔管成功率高于对照组（70.83% vs 63.16%,P = 0.038）。观察组患者ICU住院时间短于对照组[（15.34±3.28）d vs （18.68±3.54）d,P = 0.030]。观察组患者28 d病死率低于对照组（22.92% vs 26.32%,P = 0.035）。相关性分析提示早期肠内营养联合益生菌与患者的机械通气天数（r = −0.489,P = 0.039）和病死率（r = −0.312,P = 0.042）均存在相关性。非条件Logistic回归分析显示早期肠内营养联合益生菌能够降低患者的死亡风险。

相比单一予以早期肠内营养,采用早期肠内营养联合益生菌治疗ARDS患者更有利于缩短患者机械通气时间,降低病死率,改善患者的预后。

     

Altered molecular specificity of surfactant phosphatidycholine synthesis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening critical illness, characterised by qualitative and quantitative surfactant compositional changes associated with premature airway collapse, gas-exchange abnormalities and acute hypoxic respiratory failure. The underlying mechanisms for this dysregulation in surfactant metabolisms are not fully explored. Lack of therapeutic benefits from clinical trials, highlight the importance of detailed in-vivo analysis and characterisation of ARDS patients according to patterns of surfactant synthesis and metabolism.

Methods

Ten patients with moderate to severe ARDS were recruited. Most (90%) suffered from pneumonia. They had an infusion of methyl-D₉-choline chloride and small volume bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained at 0,6,12,24,48,72 and 96 hours. Controls were healthy volunteers, who had BALF at 24 and 48 hours after methyl-D₉-choline infusion. Compositional analysis and enrichment patterns of stable isotope labelling of surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) was determined by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.

Results

BALF of patients with ARDS consisted of diminished total PC and fractional PC16:0/16:0 concentrations compared to healthy controls. Compositional analysis revealed, reductions in fractional compositions of saturated PC species with elevated levels of longer acyl chain unsaturated PC species. Molecular specificity of newly synthesised PC fraction showed time course variation, with lower PC16:0/16:0 composition at earlier time points, but achieved near equilibrium with endogenous composition at 48 hours after methyl-D₉-choline infusion. The enrichment of methyl-D₉-choline into surfactant total PC is nearly doubled in patients, with considerable variation between individuals.

Conclusions

This study demonstrate significant alterations in composition and kinetics of surfactant PC extracted from ARDS patients. This novel approach may facilitate biochemical phenotyping of ARDS patients according to surfactant synthesis and metabolism, enabling individualised treatment approaches for the management of ARDS patients in the future.     

乌司他丁对急性肺损伤/急性呼吸窘迫综合征的治疗研究

目的研究大剂量乌司他丁在急性肺损伤/急性呼吸窘迫综合征中的治疗效果。方法回顾性分析2006年1月至2010年1月广西医科大学第一附属医院ICU收治的154例ALI/ARDS患者的临床资料,根据治疗方案分为乌司他丁组(UTI组)(n=80),对照组(n=74)。记录两组患者开始治疗、治疗第3天、治疗第7天的生命体征、动脉血气分析、血生化检查结果;记录患者在ICU治疗的转归。应用SPSS 13.0软件对结果进行统计学分析。结果经治疗3天UTI组呼吸频率低于对照组;动脉血气分析提示两组患者PaO2、PaO2/Fi O2、SaO2均有上升,UTI组PaO2/Fi O2略低于对照组(P0.01),而两组患者PaO2、SaO2比较无统计学差异。UTI组与对照组的死亡率比较(UTI组52.5%,对照组52.7%,P=0.980)无统计学差异,机械通气时间UTI组低于对照组[UTI组(14.8±3.9)天,对照组(16.7±4.2)天,P=0.020]。根据ALI/ARDS发生的病因分为肺内源性及肺外源性进行亚组分析(A组:肺内源性ALI/ARDS,使用UTI治疗;B组:肺内源性ALI/ARDS,不使用UTI治疗;C组:肺外源性ALI/ARDS,使用UTI治疗;D组:肺外源性ALI/ARDS,不使用UTI治疗),发现乌司他丁对肺外源性ALI/ARDS患者(C组)的ICU时间、ICU内死亡率及机械通气时间均低于不使用UTI的患者(D组)。结论大剂量乌司他丁用于ALI/ARDS的临床治疗可有效改善患者氧合指数,减少机械通气时间,且高血糖的发生率低,尤其是乌司他丁治疗肺外源性ALI/ARDS患者的预后优于肺内源性的ALI/ARDS。     

The protective effects of C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 compound in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) have been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in various inflammation-related diseases. However, their combined role in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been investigated yet. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of C16 peptide and Ang-1 in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory insult in vitro and in vivo. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells were used as cell culture systems, and an ARDS rodent model was used for in vivo studies. Our results demonstrated that C16 and Ang-1 in combination significantly suppressed inflammatory cell transmigration by 33% in comparison with the vehicle alone, and decreased the lung tissue wet-to-dry lung weight ratio to a maximum of 1.53, compared to 3.55 in the vehicle group in ARDS rats. Moreover, C  +  A treatment reduced the histology injury score to 60% of the vehicle control, enhanced arterial oxygen saturation (SO₂), decreased arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO₂), and increased oxygen partial pressure (PO₂) in ARDS rats, while also improving the survival rate from 47% (7/15) to 80% (12/15) and diminishing fibrosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in lung tissue. Furthermore, when C  +  A therapy was administered 4 h following LPS injection, the treatment showed significant alleviating effects on pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration 24 h postinsult. In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo studies show that C16 and Ang-1 exert protective effects against LPS-induced inflammatory insult. C16 and Ang-1 hold promise as a novel agent against LPS-induced ARDS. Further studies are needed to determine the potential for C16 and Ang-1 in combination in treating inflammatory lung diseases.     

The effects of salbutamol on epithelial ion channels depend on the etiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome but not the route of administration

Introduction

We investigated the effects of intravenous and intratracheal administration of salbutamol on lung morphology and function, expression of ion channels, aquaporin, and markers of inflammation, apoptosis, and alveolar epithelial/endothelial cell damage in experimental pulmonary (p) and extrapulmonary (exp) mild acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods

In this prospective randomized controlled experimental study, 56 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to mild ARDS induced by either intratracheal (n = 28, ARDSp) or intraperitoneal (n = 28, ARDSexp) administration of E. coli lipopolysaccharide. Four animals with no lung injury served as controls (NI). After 24 hours, animals were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated in pressure-controlled mode with low tidal volume (6 mL/kg), and randomly assigned to receive salbutamol (SALB) or saline 0.9% (CTRL), intravenously (i.v., 10 μg/kg/h) or intratracheally (bolus, 25 μg). Salbutamol doses were targeted at an increase of ≈ 20% in heart rate. Hemodynamics, lung mechanics, and arterial blood gases were measured before and after (at 30 and 60 min) salbutamol administration. At the end of the experiment, lungs were extracted for analysis of lung histology and molecular biology analysis. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and fold changes relative to NI, CTRL vs. SALB.

Results

The gene expression of ion channels and aquaporin was increased in mild ARDSp, but not ARDSexp. In ARDSp, intravenous salbutamol resulted in higher gene expression of alveolar epithelial sodium channel (0.20 ± 0.07 vs. 0.68 ± 0.24, p < 0.001), aquaporin-1 (0.44 ± 0.09 vs. 0.96 ± 0.12, p < 0.001) aquaporin-3 (0.31 ± 0.12 vs. 0.93 ± 0.20, p < 0.001), and Na-K-ATPase-α (0.39 ± 0.08 vs. 0.92 ± 0.12, p < 0.001), whereas intratracheal salbutamol increased the gene expression of aquaporin-1 (0.46 ± 0.11 vs. 0.92 ± 0.06, p < 0.001) and Na-K-ATPase-α (0.32 ± 0.07 vs. 0.58 ± 0.15, p < 0.001). In ARDSexp, the gene expression of ion channels and aquaporin was not influenced by salbutamol. Morphological and functional variables and edema formation were not affected by salbutamol in any of the ARDS groups, regardless of the route of administration.

Conclusion

Salbutamol administration increased the expression of alveolar epithelial ion channels and aquaporin in mild ARDSp, but not ARDSexp, with no effects on lung morphology and function or edema formation. These results may contribute to explain the negative effects of β2-agonists on clinical outcome in ARDS.     

Mesenchymal stem cells as living anti-inflammatory therapy for COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a pandemic disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V2), is growing at an exponential rate worldwide. Manifestations of this disease are heterogeneous; however, advanced cases often exhibit various acute respiratory distress syndrome-like symptoms, systemic inflammatory reactions, coagulopathy, and organ involvements. A common theme in advanced COVID-19 is unrestrained immune activation, classically referred to as a cytokine storm, as well as deficiencies in immune regulatory mechanisms such as T regulatory cells. While mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) themselves are objects of cytokine regulation, they can secrete cytokines to modulate immune cells by inducing antiinflammatory regulatory Treg cells, macrophages and neutrophils; and by reducing the activation of T and B cells, dendritic and nature killer cells. Consequently, they have therapeutic potential for treating severe cases of COVID-19. Here we discuss the unique ability of MSCs, to act as a living antiinflammatory, which can rebalance the cytokine/immune responses to restore equilibrium. We also discuss current MSC trials and present different concepts for optimization of MSC therapy in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.     

急性呼吸窘迫综合征中miRNAs的生物标记作用与调控机制

MiRNAs作为非编码单链RNA分子,具有时空特异性和较高的保守性。近年来,许多实验数据证明,miRNA对细胞基因表达、细胞分化和组织发育等过程有着重要的调控作用,特别是在一些疾病的发生与发展中,miRNAs会异常表达且通过某些机制促进或抑制疾病的恶化。急性呼吸窘迫综合征(acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS)的发生由多种因素造成,主要临床表现为肺泡-毛细血管损伤。在ARDS发病过程中,一些miRNAs表达异常,且通过调控mRNA转录和表达,参与整个发病过程。在ARDS发病过程中明显上调或下调且具有特异性的miRNA分子可能为ARDS的预前及预后提供新的标志物,同时研究其调控机制也为诊疗提供新靶点。     

Predictive factors of mortality in patients treated with tocilizumab for acute respiratory distress syndrome related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

COVID-19 patients (n = 34) suffering from ARDS were treated with tocilizumab (TCZ). Outcome was classified in two groups: “Death” and “Recovery”. Predictive factors of mortality were studied. Mean age was 75.3, mean oxygen (O₂) requirements 10.4 l/min. At baseline, all patients had multiple biological abnormalities (lymphopenia, increased CRP, ferritin, fibrinogen, D-dimer and liver enzymes). 24 patients (70.5%) recovered after TCZ therapy and 10 died (29.5%). Deceased subjects differed from patients in whom treatment was effective with regard to more pronounced lymphopenia (0.6 vs 1.0 G/l; p = 0.037), lower platelet number (156 vs 314 G/l; p = 0.0001), lower fibrinogen serum level (0.6 vs 1.0 G/l; p = 0.03), higher aspartate-amino-transferase (108 vs 57 UI/l; p = 0.05) and greater O₂ requirements (11 vs 8 l/min; p = 0.003).     

A study on the protective effects of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-induced mucosal immunity against lung injury in a mouse acute respiratory distress syndrome model

This study aims to determine the feasibility of using oligodeoxynucleotides with unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotide sequences (CpG ODN) as an immunity protection strategy for a mouse model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is a prospective laboratory animal investigation. Twenty-week-old BALB/c mice in Animal research laboratory were randomized into groups. An ARDS model was induced in mice using lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). CpG ODN was intranasally and transrectally immunized before or after the 3rd and 7th days of establishing the ARDS model. Mice were euthanized on Day 7 after the second immunization. Then, retroorbital bleeding was carried out and the chest was rapidly opened to collect the trachea and tissues from both lungs for testing. CpG ODN significantly improved the pathologic impairment in mice lung, especially after the intranasal administration of 50 μg. This resulted in the least severe lung tissue injury. Furthermore, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 concentrations were lower, which was second to mice treated with the rectal administration of 20 µg CpG ODN. In contrast, the nasal and rectal administration of CpG ODN in BALB/c mice before LPS immunization did not appear to exhibit any significant protective effects. The intranasal administration of CpG ODN may be a potential treatment approach to ARDS. More studies are needed to further determine the protective mechanism of CpG ODN.     

Urinary desmosine as a biomarker in acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a complex disorder associated with an acute inflammatory response thought to contribute to tissue injury. Desmosine, a cross-linking amino acid present in elastin, is released during matrix degradation and cleared by the kidney. Results from animal models and human disease studies have suggested that ALI is associated with the release of desmosine, resulting in increased urinary desmosine. A radioimmunoassay was used to monitor urinary desmosine levels over 10 days in ten patients with ALI. The concentration of desmosine was measured with and without acid hydrolysis. Baseline urinary desmosine was increased in two of ten patients. The concentration of desmosine at baseline did not appear to be related to age, gender, neutrophil elastase (NE)/α₁-antiprotease complex concentration or P_aO₂/F_iO₂ ratio. No meaningful changes in desmosine levels were noted after removal from mechanical ventilation. Baseline desmosine concentrations did not appear to correlate with the risk of death. The limited sensitivity, predictive correlations and dynamic modulation would suggest that urine desmosine has a limited role as a biomarker for ALI. Hydrolysis of urine samples appears necessary for optimal measurement of urine desmosine.     

Current status and prospects of basic research and clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and clinically devastating disease that causes respiratory failure. Morbidity and mortality of patients in intensive care units are stubbornly high, and various complications severely affect the quality of life of survivors. The pathophysiology of ARDS includes increased alveolar–capillary membrane permeability, an influx of protein-rich pulmonary edema fluid, and surfactant dysfunction leading to severe hypoxemia. At present, the main treatment for ARDS is mechanical treatment combined with diuretics to reduce pulmonary edema, which primarily improves symptoms, but the prognosis of patients with ARDS is still very poor. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stromal cells that possess the capacity to self-renew and also exhibit multilineage differentiation. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, such as the umbilical cord, endometrial polyps, menstrual blood, bone marrow, and adipose tissues. Studies have confirmed the critical healing and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Recently, the potential of stem cells in treating ARDS has been explored via basic research and clinical trials. The efficacy of MSCs has been shown in a variety of in vivo models of ARDS, reducing bacterial pneumonia and ischemia-reperfusion injury while promoting the repair of ventilator-induced lung injury. This article reviews the current basic research findings and clinical applications of MSCs in the treatment of ARDS in order to emphasize the clinical prospects of MSCs.     

油酸致兔ARDS模型长期效果的多因素析评

目的:研究油酸致ARDS模型对疾病的长期模拟效果,并探讨内在机制。方法:选择健康新西兰大白兔30只,经左侧耳缘静脉按油酸0.1 ml/kg的剂量缓慢注入,观察动物呼吸、心率变化,测定氧合指数(PaO2/FiO2)、动脉氧分压、二氧化碳分压。分别于注射油酸后6小时、24小时、48小时以及72小时处死动物,收集静脉血及肺泡灌洗液(BALF),ELISA法检测肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)变化。H-E染色镜下观察肺部病理改变,计算肺组织含水量以判断肺损伤程度。结果:①所有模型动物在6小时内均出现ARDS表现。②6h组、24h组以及48h组氧合指数(PaO2/FiO2)与正常对照组相比均明显降低(P<0.05),且符合ARDS诊断标准。72h组氧合指数(PaO2/FiO2)虽然也明显降低,但未达到ARDS的诊断标准。③血浆中TNF-α与IL-6明显升高(P<0.05),于致伤后72小时后有所恢复,但仍高于正常。BALF中TNF-α也出现相同变化趋势,而IL-6则在试验期间持续高表达。④镜下可见两肺充血、出血,肺泡及肺间质水肿,透明膜形成,大量中性粒细胞浸润,终末支气管上皮细胞变性坏死,双肺含水...     

Contribution of neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase in the early phase of fulminant acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by influenza virus infection

Because the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by influenza virus infection remains unknown, we can only improve on existing therapeutic interventions. To approach the subject, we investigated immunological etiology focused on cytokines and an acute lung damage factor in influenza-induced ARDS by using a PR-8 (A/H1N1)-infected mouse model. The infected mouse showed fulminant severe pneumonia with leukocyte infiltration, claudin alteration on tight junctions, and formation of hyaline membranes. In addition to interferon (IFN)-α, plenty of keratinocyte-derived chemokines (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) were significantly released into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the model. We focused on neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a potent tissue damage factor and examined its contribution in influenza pneumonia by using mice genetically lacking in MPO. The absence of MPO reduced inflammatory damage with suppression of leakage of total BALF proteins associated with alteration of claudins in the lung. MPO(-/-) mice also suppressed viral load in the lung. The present study suggests that MPO-mediated OCl(-) generation affects claudin molecules and leads to protein leakage and viral spread as a damage factor in influenza-induced ARDS.     

Enhancing autophagy in CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells as a therapeutic strategy for acute respiratory distress syndrome

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肺水相关指数对重症烧伤并发急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者病情预后的评估价值

目的评价肺水相关指数对重症烧伤并发急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者严重程度、预后判断的价值。方法对31例重症烧伤并发ARDS患者,除记录一般临床资料及主要合并症外,均利用脉搏指示剂连续心输出量(PiCCO)监测仪监测,并记录置入PiCCO导管时的急性生理和慢性健康状况(APACHE)Ⅱ评分,置管后0、24、48、72h氧合指数,肺血管通透性指数(PVPI)和血管外肺水指数(EVLWI)值。根据28天预后分为存活组和死亡组,分析两组各指数之间的差异及其对预后的评估能力。结果纳入研究的31例患者中,28天内死亡21例(67.7%),吸入性损伤、脓毒血症是主要合并症及影响预后的主要因素。存活组患者置管后72h氧合指数高于死亡组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);存活组患者置管后48、72hPVPI低于死亡组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);存活组患者置管后24、48、72hEVLWI低于死亡组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);且随着置管时间延长,氧合指数、PVPI、EVLWI均对预后评价准确性增加,置管后72h的氧合指数、PVPI、EVLWI值对预后的评价最佳,3个指数对预后评估价值差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论运用PiCCO监测仪对肺水相关指数连续监测对重症烧伤并发ARDS患者严重程度、预后评价具有重要临床意义。     

Quantitative proteomic analysis by iTRAQ for identification of candidate biomarkers in plasma from acute respiratory distress syndrome patients

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critical patients. Proteomic analysis of plasma from individuals with ARDS could elucidate new biomarkers for diagnosis and pathophysiology and identify potential ARDS treatment targets. In this study, we recruited 26 patients (15 controls, 11 ARDS). The ARDS group was subdivided into two groups depending on the type of injury: (1) direct lung injury (AD) and (2) indirect lung injury (AI). Using iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) analysis, we identified 2429 peptides representing 132 plasma proteins. Among these, 16 were differentially expressed in ARDS patients, including 11 overlapping proteins between the AI and AD group and 5 AI-specific proteins. Protein annotation revealed that lipid transport and complement activation were significantly enriched in the biological process category, and lipid transporter, transporter, and serine-type peptidase activities were significantly enriched in the molecular function category. IPA (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) signaling pathways revealed that the overlapping proteins were involved in a variety of signaling pathways, including those underlying acute phase response; liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (LXR/RXR) and farnesoid X (FXR)/RXR activation; clathrin-mediated endocytosis; atherosclerosis; interleukin (IL)-12; complement system; and cytokine, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species production in macrophages. We present the first proteomic analysis of ARDS plasma using the iTRAQ approach. Our data provide new biomarker candidates and shed light on potential pathological mechanisms underlying ARDS.     

SARS患者痰液嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌的动态监测与意义

目的探讨嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌的动态检测对严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）的临床意义.方法仪器和手工法动态监测3例重症和1例轻症患者痰液中嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌的定量变化和耐药性,同时观察K-B法药敏试验中L型的诱导情况及变异趋势.结果3例重症SARS患者共42次痰液和1次胸腔引流液培养中,35份分离出来嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌L型,形态以长丝体为主.结论动态监测重症SARS患者痰液中嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌有重要意义,多种抗生素可诱导其发生L型变异,应随时注意其变异趋势.     

SARS-CoV-2抗原表位分析及相关疫苗研发的进展与挑战

疫苗的接种被认为是阻止时下2019冠状病毒病(Corona Virus Disease 2019,COVID-19)疫情进一步蔓延的最有效手段.目前,国内外多个研究团队采用了不同的技术路线开展严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2,S...     

Mesenchymal stromal cells as potential immunomodulatory players in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and the related coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a worldwide emerging situation, which was initially reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Currently, more than 7258842 new cases, and more than 411879 deaths have been reported globally. This new highly transmitted coronavirus is responsible for the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Due to this disorder, a great number of patients are hospitalized in the intensive care unit followed by connection to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for breath supporting and survival. Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome is mostly accompanied by the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GSCF), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP10), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1), macrophage inflammatory protein 1A (MIP1A), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), an event which is known as “cytokine storm”. Further disease pathology involves a generalized modulation of immune responses, leading to fatal multiorgan failure. Currently, no specific treatment or vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been developed. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which are known for their immunosuppressive actions, could be applied as an alternative co-therapy in critically-ill COVID-19 patients. Specifically, MSCs can regulate the immune responses through the conversion of Th1 to Th2, activation of M2 macrophages, and modulation of dendritic cells maturation. These key immunoregulatory properties of MSCs may be exerted either by produced soluble factors or by cell-cell contact interactions. To date, several clinical trials have been registered to assess the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential of MSCs in COVID-19. Moreover, MSC treatment may be effective for the reversion of ground-glass opacity of damaged lungs and reduce the tissue fibrosis. Taking into account the multifunctional properties of MSCs, the proposed stem-cell-based therapy may be proven significantly effective in critically-ill COVID-19 patients. The current therapeutic strategy may improve the patient’s overall condition and in parallel may decrease the mortality rate of the current disease.