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Updated: Dec 26, 2025
Feeder-free Derivation of Neural Crest Progenitor Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: May 22, 2014
A unique neuroendocrine cell model derived from the human foetal neural crest
E Rapizzi1, S Benvenuti2, C Deledda2
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Purpose:
Nowadays, no human neuroendocrine cell models derived from the neural crest are available. In this study, we present non-transformed long-term primary Neural Crest Cells (NCCs) isolated from the trunk region of the neural crest at VIII-XII gestational weeks of human foetuses obtained from voluntary legal abortion.
Methods And Results:
In NCC, quantitative real-time RT PCR demonstrated the expression of neural crest specifier genes, such as Snail1, Snail2/SLUG, Sox10, FoxD3, c-Myc, and p75NTR. Moreover, these cell populations expressed stemness markers (such as Nanog and nestin), as well as markers of motility and invasion (TAGLN, MMP9, CXCR4, and CXCR7), and of neuronal/glial differentiation (MAP2, GFAP, SYP, and TAU). Functional analysis demonstrated that these cells not only possessed high migration properties, but most importantly, they expressed markers of sympatho-adrenal lineage, such as ASCL1 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Moreover, the expression of TH increased after the induction with two different protocols of differentiation towards neuronal and sympatho-adrenal phenotypes. Finally, exposure to conditioned culture media from NCC induced a mature phenotype in a neuronal cell model (namely SH-SY5Y), suggesting that NCC may also act like Schwann precursors.
Conclusion:
This unique human cell model provides a solid tool for future studies addressing the bases of human neural crest-derived neuroendocrine tumours.
