Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a transient multipotent cell population that originates in the dorsal neural tube. Cells of the NC are highly migratory, as they travel considerable distances through the body to reach their final sites. Derivatives of the NC are neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the enteric nervous system as well as non-neural cells. Different signaling pathways triggered by Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs), Wnt proteins, Notch ligands, retinoic acid (RA), and Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) participate in the processes of induction, specification, cell migration and neural differentiation of the NC. A specific set of signaling pathways and transcription factors are initially expressed in the neural plate border and then in the NC cell precursors to the formation of cranial nerves. The molecular mechanisms of control during embryonic development have been gradually elucidated, pointing to an important role of transcriptional regulators when neural differentiation occurs. However, some of these proteins have an important participation in malformations of the cranial portion and their mutation results in aberrant neurogenesis. This review aims to give an overview of the role of cell signaling and of the function of transcription factors involved in the specification of ganglia precursors and neurogenesis to form the NC-derived cranial nerves during organogenesis.
Highlights
During the embryonic development of vertebrates, one of the main events after the gastrulation process is neurulation, which allows the formation of the neural tube (NT)
Some of the most relevant pathways and genes involved in Cranial nerves (CN) formation are represented in Figure 3 and Table 2
Gene regulation during embryonic development as well as during induction, specification, delamination, migration, survival and differentiation of the neural crest (NC) is a very complex process that leads to a strict expression of genetic information
Summary
During the embryonic development of vertebrates, one of the main events after the gastrulation process is neurulation, which allows the formation of the neural tube (NT). The neural ectoderm generates the central nervous system (CNS) and another set of cells between the NT and the nonneural ectoderm located in the most dorsal part of the NT, called the neural crest (NC) (Hall, 2008; Simões-Costa et al, 2015). This versatile and plastic cell population was first described by Wilhelm His 150 years ago (Hall, 1999). The CN are formed from the contribution of two specialized embryonic cell populations, cranial NC and ectodermal placodes
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