SARS-CoV-2 infection and stem cells: Interaction and intervention

•ACE2+ stem cells of the respiratory tracts are likely involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection.•Dysregulatiton of immune response is underlying the physiopathology of fata ARDS and ALI.•MSCs appear to be a promising cell therapy because they favourably modulate the immune response to reduce lung injury.•Due to viral infection targeting pulmonary stem cells, lung might loss endogenous repair capability.•Transplantation of exogenous stem cells may be needed to facilitate the regeneration of lung tissue.•Vaccines, NK cells and CTLs may offer urgent therapeutics and prevention measures of CoV-SARS-2 reemergence.