The Potency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) and Natural Killer (NK) Cells as A Therapeutic of SARS-CoV-2 Indonesia Isolates Infection by Viral Inactivation (In Vitro Study)

• Main Authors: Purwati, Andang Miatmoko, Nasronudin, Deya Karsari, Aristika Dinaryanti, Eryk Hendrianto, Igo Syaiful Ihsan, Nora Ertanti, Disca Sandyakala Purnama, Tri Pudy Asmarawati, Erika Marfiani, Zamrotul Izzah, Alfian Nur Rosyid, Prastuti Asta Wulaningrum, Herley Windo Setiawan
• Format: Article PeerReviewed
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publication 2020
• Subjects: R Medicine; RS Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441 Pharmacy and materia medica; RS200-201 Pharmaceutical dosage forms
• Online Access: https://repository.unair.ac.id/123706/3/C-16%20Artikel.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123706/1/C-16%20Kualitas%20Karil.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123706/2/C-16%20Similarity.pdf; https://repository.unair.ac.id/123706/; https://www.sysrevpharm.org/abstract/the-potency-of-hematopoietic-stem-cells-hscs-and-natural-killer-nk-cells-as-a-therapeutic-of-sarscov2-indonesia-isolates-66379.html
• Institution: Universitas Airlangga

Background: The prevalence of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia as of June 9, 2020, has been confirmed 32.076 positive cases, with 1.923 death cases. The total number of deaths reached 92,941 cases. There has been a recent update on stem cell-based biological, medical therapy as an optional treatment to handling COVID-19 due to its potential viability besides using the prevalent conventional chemical drug therapy. Methods: In this study, in vitro research was conducted to determine the potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and natural killer cells (NK cells) against SARS-CoV-2 viruses, which virus isolates were collected in Indonesia. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was planted in rat kidney cells and Vero cells. The cells that had been planted with the virus were given HSCs and NK cells, followed by being evaluated at intervals of 24, 48, and 72 hours. The evaluation was done by collecting cells and supernatant from the cell plate and then determining the viral load using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. Results: The results showed that the addition of HSCs and NK on cells that had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a decrease in viral load within 24 to 72 hours in all variations of Multiples of Infection (MoI) values. Conclusions: The administration of HSCs and NK cells has the potential to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although this study is only an in vitro study, it could be the basis for the development of alternative stem cell-based therapies to tackle COVID-19 cases.