Abstract
Identification and isolation of neural progenitor cells from the human enteric nervous system (ENS) is currently hampered by the lack of reliable, specific markers. Here, we define the Wnt-receptor frizzled-4 as a marker for the isolation of enteric neural progenitor cells derived from paediatric gut samples. We show that the Wnt-receptor frizzled-4 is expressed in the human colon and in Tunica muscularis-derived enterospheres. To obtain a purified culture, we carried out fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using PE-conjugated frizzled-4 antibodies. Frizzled-4positive cells gave rise to neurosphere-like bodies and ultimately differentiated into neurons as revealed by BrdU-proliferation assays and immunocytochemistry, whereas in frizzled-4negative cultures we did not detect any neuronal and glial cells. By using a patch-clamp approach, we also demonstrated the expression of functional sodium and potassium channels in frizzled-4positive cell cultures after differentiation in vitro.
Highlights
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex network of neurons and glial cells organized into two dominating ganglionated plexus within the alimentary tract
We evaluated if frizzled-4 is useful as a marker for the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based isolation of enteric neural progenitor cells from human resectates
Results and Discussion interaction studies indicate that frizzled-4 and Wnt3a bind with high affinity to initiate the canonical Wnt pathway [26]
Summary
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex network of neurons and glial cells organized into two dominating ganglionated plexus within the alimentary tract. After initial reports of proliferative neural cells in the postnatal intestine of rats by Kruger et al [7], ENS progenitors were isolated from mice [8,9]. Human gut samples [10], even from elderly patients [11] These cells exhibit a decreasing proliferative capacity over the course of aging [5], they can be expanded and differentiated in vitro to give rise to glial cells and different neuronal subtypes.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
