Environmental cues from CNS, PNS, and ENS cells regulate CNS progenitor differentiation

Abstract

Cellular origin and environmental cues regulate stem cell fate determination. Neuroepithelial stem cells form the central nervous system (CNS), whereas neural crest stem cells generate the peripheral (PNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS). CNS neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) fate determination was investigated in combination with dissociated cultures or conditioned media from CNS, PNS, or ENS. Cells or media from ENS or PNS cultures efficiently promoted NSPC differentiation into neurons, glia, and smooth muscle cells with a similar morphology as the feeder culture. Together with CNS cells or its conditioned medium, NSPC differentiation was partly inhibited and cells remained immature. Here, we demonstrate that secreted factors from the environment can influence CNS progenitor cells to choose a PNS-like cell fate.