| Neural crest | |
|---|---|
 The formation of neural crest during the process of neurulation. Neural crest is first induced in the region of the neural plate border. After neural tube closure, neural crest cells delaminate from the region between the dorsal neural tube and overlying ectoderm and migrates out towards the periphery. | |
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | D009432 |
| TE | crest_by_E5.0.2.1.0.0.2 E5.0.2.1.0.0.2 |
| FMA | 86666 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The neural crest is a ridge-like structure that is formed transiently between the epidermal ectoderm and neural plate during vertebrate development. Neural crest cells originate from this structure through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and in turn give rise to a diverse cell lineage—including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage and bone, smooth muscle, dentin, peripheral and enteric neurons, adrenal medulla and glia.[1][2]
After gastrulation, the neural crest is specified at the border of the neural plate and the non-neural ectoderm. During neurulation, the borders of the neural plate, also known as the neural folds, converge at the dorsal midline to form the neural tube.[3] Subsequently, neural crest cells from the roof plate of the neural tube undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition, delaminating from the neuroepithelium and migrating through the periphery where they differentiate into varied cell types.[1] The emergence of the neural crest was important in vertebrate evolution because many of its structural derivatives are defining features of the vertebrate clade.[4]
Underlying the development of the neural crest is a gene regulatory network, described as a set of interacting signals, transcription factors, and downstream effector genes, that confer cell characteristics such as multipotency and migratory capabilities.[5] Understanding the molecular mechanisms of neural crest formation is important for our knowledge of human disease because of its contributions to multiple cell lineages. Abnormalities in neural crest development cause neurocristopathies, which include conditions such as frontonasal dysplasia, Waardenburg–Shah syndrome, and DiGeorge syndrome.[1]
Defining the mechanisms of neural crest development may reveal key insights into vertebrate evolution and neurocristopathies.
- ^ a b c Huang, X.; Saint-Jeannet, J.P. (2004). "Induction of the neural crest and the opportunities of life on the edge". Dev. Biol. 275 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.07.033. PMID 15464568.
- ^ Shakhova, Olga; Sommer, Lukas (2008). "Neural crest-derived stem cells". StemBook. Harvard Stem Cell Institute. doi:10.3824/stembook.1.51.1. PMID 20614636. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Brooker, R.J. 2014, Biology, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1084
- ^ Meulemans, D.; Bronner-Fraser, M. (2004). "Gene-regulatory interactions in neural crest evolution and development". Dev Cell. 7 (3): 291–9. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2004.08.007. PMID 15363405.
- ^ Sauka-Spengler, T.; Meulemans, D.; Jones, M.; Bronner-Fraser, M. (2007). "Ancient evolutionary origin of the neural crest gene regulatory network". Dev Cell. 13 (3): 405–20. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2007.08.005. PMID 17765683.