Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i4.404
Revised: August 26, 2014
Accepted: August 30, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Since 1928, human fetal tissues and stem cells have been used worldwide to treat various conditions. Although the transplantation of the fetal midbrain substantia nigra and dopaminergic neurons in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease is particularly noteworthy, the history of other types of grafts, such as those of the fetal liver, thymus, and pancreas, should be addressed as there are many lessons to be learnt for future stem cell transplantation. This report describes previous practices and complications that led to current clinical trials of isolated fetal stem cells and embryonic stem (ES) cells. Moreover, strategies for transplantation are considered, with a particular focus on donor cells, cell processing, and the therapeutic cell niche, in addition to ethical issues associated with fetal origin. With the advent of autologous induced pluripotent stem cells and ES cells, clinical dependence on fetal transplantation is expected to gradually decline due to lasting ethical controversies, despite landmark achievements.
Core tip: Based on the history of fetal stem cell transplantation since 1928, this article discusses strategies for transplantation, with a focus on donor cells, cell processing, and the therapeutic cell niche, in addition to ethical issues associated with fetal origin. We described the stream line to current clinical trials using fetal and embryonic stem cells based on Clinical. Trials. gov. Finally, we discussed the perspective of fetal stem cell transplantation.