Airway Basal Stem Cells Inflammatory Alterations in COVID-19 and Mitigation by Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection and the resultant COVID-19 pneumonia cause significant damage to the airway and lung epithelium. This damage manifests as mucus hypersecretion, pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, which often lead to long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). The airway epithelium, as the first line of defence against respiratory pathogens, depends on airway basal stem cells (BSCs) for regeneration. Alterations in BSCs are associated with impaired epithelial repair and may contribute to the respiratory complications observed in PASC. Given the critical role of BSCs in maintaining epithelial integrity, understanding their alterations in COVID-19 is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the intrinsic properties of BSCs derived from COVID-19 patients and evaluates the modulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Through a combination of functional assessments and transcriptomic profiling, we identified key phenotypic and molecular deviations in COVID-19 patient-derived BSCs, including goblet cell hyperplasia, inflammation and fibrosis, which may underlie their contribution to PASC. Notably, MSC co-culture significantly mitigated these adverse effects, potentially through modulation of the interferon signalling pathway. This is the first study to isolate BSCs from COVID-19 patients in the Chinese population and establish a COVID-19 BSC-based xenograft model. Our findings reveal critical insights into the role of BSCs in epithelial repair and their inflammatory alterations in COVID-19 pathology, with potential relevance to PASC and virus-induced respiratory sequelae. Additionally, our study highlights MSC-based therapies as a promising strategy to address respiratory sequelae and persistent symptoms.

Keywords

airway basal stem cells / COVID-19 / fibrosis / goblet cell hyperplasia / inflammation / mesenchymal stem cells / post-acute sequelae of COVID-19

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2025 The Author(s). Cell Proliferation published by Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.