Schwann cell precursors are a novel cellular source of enteric neurons

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460279
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Kobe University (2014-2015); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Uesaka Toshihiro 神戸大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (90304451)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 腸管神経系 / 神経堤細胞 / ニューロン新生 / シュワン細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Elucidating the cellular identity of neuronal precursors provides novel insights into development and function of the nervous system. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is innervated richly by extrinsic nerve fibers, but little is known about the significance of extrinsic innervation to the structural integrity of the ENS. This research reveals that a subset of Schwann cell precursors (SCPs), which invades the gut alongside the extrinsic nerves, adopts a neuronal fate and differentiates into specific neuronal subtypes. SCP-specific ablation of the Ret gene leads to colonic oligoganglionosis, demonstrating a crucial role of SCP-derived neurogenesis in ENS development. Cross-lineage differentiation capacity in SCPs suggests their potential involvement in the development and pathology of a wide variety of neural crest-derived cell types.

Free Research Field

神経発生学