The use of fetal tissue for therapeutic applications.
In recent years, dramatic progress has been made through research using dead human fetal tissue. Cellular transplantation is an attractive alternative to organ grafting when only a discrete function of the organ is impaired. Early fetal donor cells have an advantage because they engraft readily and do not cause graft-versus-host disease. Similarly, the fetus is an ideal recipient of allogenic fetal cells as it is incapable of rejecting them early in gestation. Recent research advances have led to its use in endocrine, neurologic and immune system disorders as well as in hematologic and hepatic deficiencies. Concurrently, this research has led to controversy over the ethics of using human fetal tissue, particularly tissue from induced abortions. Although legalized abortion remains a hotly debated controversial issue in the USA and some other countries, a consensus has been forming, in the scientific community, on the ethical use of fetal tissue in research and clinical transplantation. This review presents the theoretical background and recent research and clinical advances in fetal tissue transplantation, in the light of the current debate on its ethical and moral implications.
Rojansky
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Medical Center, Ein-Kerem, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Schenker
J G
JG
D037881:Aborted Fetus; D000818:Animals; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D035843:Biomedical Research; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation; D028661:Complicity; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D033042:Fetal Research; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D019369:Life; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008954:Models, Biological; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D028723:Personhood; D037841:Pregnant People; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*