Last Sunday at the NY chapter meeting of the CMA, we were given a lecture by Dr. Alan Moy, MD. He’s a pulmonologist and also the Director of John Paul II Stem Cell Research Institute.
So quick question, which of the following stem cell therapies are made from illicit/ aborted fetal stem cell lines/ chimeras? For those who don’t know, (Human-animal) chimeras are when human cells and tissues are grafted into embryos, fetuses or adult animals. Human-animal chimeras are also created by inserting human stem cells into animals embryonic, fetal or postnatal stage.
- MMR vaccine
- CAR- T therapy (which stands for Chimeric antigen receptor )
- AAV-HEK 293 cell line
- Biologics therapy
The answer: All of them.
Distinction between Embryonic and Adult Stem cells
Why such a hullabaloo over stem cell research and why is the CMA opposed to ESC? The CMA is opposed to embryonic stem cell research when adult stem cells have proven to be exactly the same. Their stance is that there is no need to destroy embryos from IVF cycles or source ESC’s from aborted fetuses.
Adult stem cells found among the tissues and organs of the human body. Stem cells can also be obtained from amniotic fluid, the placenta and umbilical cord blood. The Catholic Church supports the use of these stem cells in research and therapy.
Dr Moy says that Hemtopoetic stem cells (HSC) can be obtained from umbilical cord blood. HSC have already been a source of treatment for bone marrow transplantation to restore bone marrow cells after chemotherapy. 70% of bone marrow candidates cannot identify suitable immunological-matched donors. HSC represents a potential stem cell source for these bone marrow transplant candidates. Research using HSC is also being directed to treat chronic cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, pulmonary hyper-tension and chronic lung disease.
Umbilical cord blood is also a source of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSC). Under laboratory conditions, HMSC have been shown to differentiate into a variety of different tissue types, including cartilage, bone, blood, cardiac, muscle and neural tissues. Why not use these instead?
Advantage of Cord Blood Stem Cells
He says, in general, cord blood stem cells have advantages over embryonic stem cells (ESC). Tissues grown from ESC can trigger immune rejection. An advantage of cord blood stem cells is that they are immunologically immature. This minimizes the risk of tissue rejection so that patients do not have to take anti-rejection medications and risk infections. Further, ESC can form tumors which is not true of cord blood stem cells.
Implications in Healthcare
With the large number of biologics (monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and vaccines) now coming from ESC, one has to wonder about the ethical line here. For secular people it may not matter and many are probably ignorant about the subject. But for pro-life healthcare workers, it may be a problem. Dr Moy says, “Biologics and gene therapies are already utilizing human cell lines obtained in ways that conflict with Catholic teaching. ESC are already utilized in the drug discovery process, which can result in FDA-approved drugs. They could potentially result in life-saving regenerative medicines someday. If these products become more prevalent, the situation could pose serious ethical challenges for Catholic hospitals that will have to decide whether they will or will not allow these products to be administered in their facilities.”
Let’s set aside pro-life doctors and nurses, if I were a patient and I needed one of these life saving drugs, would I refuse it because it’s been sourced from a morally illicit line? You can read more about this dilemma in the Healthcare Ethics USA Quarterly.
The Alternative to embryonic stem cell?
Dr Moy explains that in 2005, the Pontifical Academy of Life issued ethical guidelines on the use of vaccines derived from aborted fetal tissue. This was done by concluding degrees of cooperation of evil exist that allowed patients and doctors to use such treatments if a morally-acceptable alternative vaccine did not exist such as in the case of the MMR vaccine. However, Dr Moy states that the document also suggested “doctors and patients should take recourse, if necessary, to the use of conscientious objection” in refusing to use the abortion-derived vaccine.”
There are multiple challenges here and it will require us to adapt and
take a greater active role in the future of biotechnology to preserve the viability of the pro-life healthcare.
Solutions
- “Catholics need to exercise greater due diligence in investigating which private medical research organizations support research that support embryonic stem cells and aborted fetal tissue.
- Health networks and foundations need to be educated in biotechnology. They must become more actively involved in advancing pro-life biotechnology.
- Media organizations need to use their media platforms to communicate and educate Catholic audiences on the biotechnology issues that confront them.
- Catholic universities need to increase their emphasis in biomedical research. They must participate in research consortiums to advance pro-life biotechnology.
- Catholic financial institutions need to invest and financially capitalize a biopharmaceutical industry consistent with Catholic teaching.
- The US Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to update the next edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. They must provide guidelines on biotechnology and its implication on Catholic health care.”
What is your stance on ESC and why?
Also check out my article in Radiology Today where I talk to radiologist, Richard Do, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center about Tumor Texture Analysis. 🙂 Their March issue is now on sale, so (radiologists) can subscribe or get your copy today!