Respiratory Failure Death - COVID-19 - A Novel Approach to ARDS

Mechanisms MSC and MSC-derived exosomes might be effective for enhancing tissue repair when treating ARDS are:

• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Restoring endothelial and epithelial integrity
• By enhancing the clearance of edema fluid from the lungs.
• Anti-microbial properties
• Decrease of death in the endogenous cells of the lung.
• Reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, time: 17:07.
• MSCs and MSC derived exosomes will migrate to the lungs if given intravenously. 
• Paracrine pathways that appear to benefit from MSCs and Exosomes, time: 21:17.
• Mitochondria & Connexin 43 pathway connection, delivering mitochondria to the injured epithelium. Mitochondria transfer to the injured epithelium allows the injured tissue to work more normally, time 22:17.
• Safety of MSC (stem cells) and exosomes, time 23:15.
• In animal models, control group showed a continued decline in oxygenation (hypoxia) while the treated group shows improvement, time 26:15. 
• Reduction of pulmonary edema in the lung, time 27:00. 
• Human trials of Stem Cells for ARDS and FDA IND submission, time: 30:50.

Note that stem cells and exosomes have been given to humans intravenously around the world for many years. They have been used for COPD (Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – NIH).

The power of this video shows the restoration of ATP function. This is particularly important to the chronically ill patient whose ATP function has diminished with age, inflammation, and chronic disease impairments, such as hyperinsulinemia or syndrome x.

The paracrine effect from Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Exosomes can modulate inflammatory distress resulting in a potential regenerative activity. In addition, cell to cell communication may be improved in a manner that helps those with age-related chronic diseases to recover better, potentially avoiding ventilation, assuming the disease state is treated with I.V. therapy of MSCs or Exosomes preemptively. 

Stem cells and Exosomes can stimulate and enhance multiple regenerative pathways enabling patients to heal better and faster than normal.  

Note that stem cells and exosomes should not be considered as a standalone therapy for ARDS. An integrative approach consisting of antibiotics like Zithromax among other protocols when needed should also be considered as an integrated approach to ARDS.  [REF: Efficacy of azithromycin in sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome].