Source: Oxford Academic
A study recently published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine demonstrates the potential of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) therapy to treat immune dysfunction caused by severe coronavirus infections, using feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) as a natural model. In a randomized trial, cats with effusive FIP received antiviral treatment alone or combined with MSC therapy. The MSC-treated group showed improved immune recovery, reduced T-cell exhaustion, increased regulatory T-cell populations, and enhanced memory T-cell development.
Single-cell RNA sequencing and cytokine profiling confirmed reduced inflammation and immune rebalancing. Importantly, MSC therapy was safe and well-tolerated. These findings underscore MSCs’ capacity to restore immune homeostasis and support long-term immunity. Given FIP’s parallels to severe COVID-19 and related conditions in humans, this research offers translational insights for managing post-viral immune dysregulation, including long COVID and MIS-C. The study supports the role of MSCs not just in acute care, but also in promoting lasting immune recovery across species, bridging Veterinary and human medicine in tackling coronavirus-related immune exhaustion.
Read the full story HERE: https://academic.oup.com/stcltm/article/14/7/szaf025/8196493