Adult Neural Crest Stem Cells Research Articles

Neural Crest Methodologies in Zebrafish and Medaka.

Neural crest cells are highly multipotent and strongly migratory cells and generate adult neural crest stem cells with varied roles in cellular homeostasis and regeneration. The optical transparency and ready accessibility of fish embryos make them particularly well-suited to high-resolution analysis of neural crest development. However, the dispersive nature of these cells adds to the challenge of their study, requiring that they be identified using marker expression. We describe key protocols for the analysis of neural crest marker expression in zebrafish and medaka, including whole-mount in situ hybridization to detect mRNA using conventional chromogenic substrates and the more recent RNAscope which gives readily multiplexed fluorescent detection and immunofluorescent detection of antigens.

Uncovering the In Vivo Source of Adult Neural Crest Stem Cells.

Some late embryonic and adult postmigratory neural crest-derived cells (NCDCs) from diverse tissues were shown to grow as multipotent neurospheres. Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) contained in these spheres were found to give rise not only to neuroectodermal derivatives but also to some of the progeny of the other embryonic germ layers. In this review, evidences regarding the in vivo properties of NCDCs contributing to NCSCs are discussed. Even though in many cases the final proof for the phenotype identity of in vivo cells generating NCSCs is lacking, some evidences suggest that such postmigratory NCDCs would differ from neural crest cells. The streamline of this review follows a historical perspective that helps understanding the advancements in knowledge of this field of research and highlighting its importance, in an appropriate context. Finally, the potential for regenerative medicine purpose of NCDCs and more specifically of tissues that can be a source of peripheral glia progenitors in the adult is underlined.

Concise review: adult mesenchymal stem cells, adult neural crest stem cells, and therapy of neurological pathologies: a state of play.

Adult stem cells are endowed with in vitro multilineage differentiation abilities and constitute an attractive autologous source of material for cell therapy in neurological disorders. With regard to lately published results, the ability of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) to integrate and differentiate into neurons once inside the central nervous system (CNS) is currently questioned. For this review, we collected exhaustive data on MSC/NCSC neural differentiation in vitro. We then analyzed preclinical cell therapy experiments in different models for neurological diseases and concluded that neural differentiation is probably not the leading property of adult MSCs and NCSCs concerning neurological pathology management. A fine analysis of the molecules that are secreted by MSCs and NCSCs would definitely be of significant interest regarding their important contribution to the clinical and pathological recovery after CNS lesions.

Schwann Cells Can Be Reprogrammed to Multipotency by Culture

Adult neural crest related-stem cells persist in adulthood, making them an ideal and easily accessible source of multipotent cells for potential clinical use. Recently, we reported the presence of neural crest-related stem cells within adult palatal ridges, thus raising the question of their localization in their endogenous niche. Using immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and correlative fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy, we identified myelinating Schwann cells within palatal ridges as a putative neural crest stem cell source. Palatal Schwann cells expressed nestin, p75(NTR), and S100. Correlative fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy revealed the exclusive nestin expression within myelinating Schwann cells. Palatal neural crest stem cells and nestin-positive Schwann cells isolated from adult sciatic nerves were able to grow under serum-free conditions as neurospheres in presence of FGF-2 and EGF. Spheres of palatal and sciatic origin showed overlapping expression pattern of neural crest stem cell and Schwann cell markers. Expression of the pluripotency factors Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Oct4, the NF-κB subunits p65, p50, and the NF-κB-inhibitor IκB-β were up-regulated in conventionally cultivated sciatic nerve Schwann cells and in neurosphere cultures. Finally, neurospheres of palatal and sciatic origin were able to differentiate into ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal cell types emphasizing their multipotency. Taken together, we show that nestin-positive myelinating Schwann cells can be reprogrammed into multipotent adult neural crest stem cells under appropriate culture conditions.

Gene profile of adult neural crest stem cells from hair follicles

We report the first transcriptome for mouse epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSC, formerly eNCSC). EPI-NCSC represent a novel type of multipotent adult stem cell that originates from the emb...

Characterization of adult neural crest stem cells from human hair follicles

Characterization of adult neural crest stem cells from human hair follicles

A molecular signature for embryonic and adult neural crest stem cells

A molecular signature for embryonic and adult neural crest stem cells