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Updated: May 24, 2026
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Isolation and Culture of Neural Crest Cells from Embryonic Murine Neural Tube
Published on: June 2, 2012
Neural crest progenitors and stem cells: from early development to adulthood
Elisabeth Dupin1, Lukas Sommer
1INSERM U894 Equipe Plasticité Gliale, Centre de Psychiatrie et de Neuroscience, 2 ter Rue d'Alésia 75014 Paris, France. elisabeth.dupin@inserm.fr
Developmental Biology
|March 20, 2012
Summary
Neural crest stem cells discovered in avian and mammalian embryos can differentiate into diverse cell types. Further research explores their role in development and disease, including adult tissues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Research
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- The vertebrate neural crest arises from the dorsal neural primordium.
- Neural crest cells are highly migratory and multipotent, differentiating into various cell types including bone, cartilage, neurons, glia, endocrine cells, smooth muscle, and melanocytes.
- Their diverse differentiation potential makes them a key model system in stem cell biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present in vivo and in vitro studies on single neural crest cell fate.
- To report the discovery and characterization of neural crest stem cells in avian and mammalian embryos.
- To discuss key issues in neural crest cell diversification and the identification of neural crest-like stem cells in adult tissues.
Main Methods:
- In vivo and in vitro studies of single cell fate.
- Characterization of stem cells within the neural crest of avian and mammalian embryos.
- Analysis of lineage segregation and progenitor cell relationships.
Main Results:
- Discovery and characterization of neural crest stem cells in avian and mammalian embryos.
- Insights into the timing of mesenchymal versus neural/melanocytic lineage segregation.
- Elucidation of the origins and relationships between glial and melanocytic lineages.
- Identification of diverse neural crest-like stem cells and progenitors in adult tissues.
Conclusions:
- Neural crest stem cells are present in vertebrate embryos and possess multipotency.
- Understanding neural crest cell diversification is crucial for stem cell research.
- Future studies combining in vivo lineage tracing and injury models will further unravel the function of neural crest-derived progenitors in development and disease.
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