FIG 2.

SARS-CoV-2 induced lung pathology and treating strategy. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes massive damage to lung epithelium, followed by inflammation storms and possible tissue disruptions. Lung stem/progenitor cells (LSPC) are injured due to the surface expression of ACE2. Monotherapy may not be sufficient to restore lung homeostasis. Combined interventions can be considered including targeted therapy with anti-SARS-CoV-2 infection drugs or monoclonal antibodies, inflammation suppression and host immunity boosts such as corticosteroids, lung structural recovery with LSPC, or MSC therapy. In addition, supportive treatments (for example, mechanical ventilation) are also necessary in the clinical care of COVID-19 patients.