Ethical Implications in the Use of Embryonic and Adult Neural Stem Cells

Abstract

The advent and growth of technological advances have led to new routes of knowledge. Thereby, we currently face new challenges. We have just started to get a glimpse of the structural and functional role of neural stem cells in differentiation and migration processes, the origin of synaptic networks, and subsequent readjustments in specific circuits. A whole range of treatment possibilities originates from this knowledge that potentially can be used for different neurological diseases in humans. Although this is an encouraging scenario, it implies that the human brain is the object of such study, as well as its potential manipulation and transplantation. It is, therefore, pertinent that ethical principles should be followed in such research to have proper balance between what can be done and what should be done, according to every specific context. Hence, it is wise to consider ethical implications in every research project, along with potential clinical applications, under the principle of causing no harm, following risk and benefit rules in decision making and with respect of the human condition as a priority.

The role of immune cells, glia and neurons in white and gray matter pathology in multiple sclerosis

“…Major limitations associated with the use of somatic NSCs therapies for human diseases include the source from which somatic NSCs are derived (either fetal or embryonic), the immunogenicity of the derived allogeneic graft, and the limited expandability/genotypic stability over extensive passaging in vitro. As such, risks of transplant rejection (Fox et al, 2012b; Pearl et al, 2012), and key ethical controversies (Ramos-Zuniga et al, 2012) have prevented the translation of NSC therapy into the clinic.…”

Interneuron transplantation: a prospective surgical therapy for medically refractory epilepsy

“…The ethical concerns surrounding cellular therapies have largely focused on the sourcing of donor cell populations, particularly those collected from human embryos or fetuses. 50 As discussed above, however, interneuron populations can be generated from human pluripotent and embryonic stem cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells, thus circumventing some of these ethical issues. What remains a larger concern is ensuring that clinical trials of interneuron transplantation adhere to fundamental ethical principles of human research, including respect for subjects and their autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice.…”

Neuroimage of the Subventricular Zone Associated with Intrauterine Ischemic Infarction

“…Today, we know that there are two neurogenic niches in the adult human brain: the SVZ and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. In these places, neural stem cells have a significant potential of differentiation to become glial cells and neurons [1,2]. The proliferative source in late pregnancy seems to be the external SVZ [3].…”