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Fig. 2 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Fig. 2

From: Potential application of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes in lung injury: an emerging therapeutic option for COVID-19 patients

Fig. 2

Anticipated immunomodulatory actions of MSCs in the lung infected with SARS-CoV-2. MSCs perform immunomodulatory functions by multiple ways, including cell-cell contact, paracrine factor secretion, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Upper panel shows the inhibitory effect of MSCs on immune cells, which are highly activated by the viral infection and secrete chemokines and cytokines in response to the infection. These chemokines and cytokines increase lung inflammation and cause epithelial and endothelial damage. Lower panel show the stimulatory effect of MSCs on other immune cells, which are crucial for SARS-CoV-2 clearance. AT1, alveolar type I epithelial cells; AT2, alveolar type II epithelial cells; NK cells, natural killer cells; Th17, T helper 17 cells; DCs, dendritic cells; DCregs, regulatory dendritic cells; Tregs, regulatory T cells; Bregs, regulatory B cells

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