A distinct transcriptome characterizes neural crest-derived cells at the migratory wavefront during enteric nervous system development.

ABSTRACT: Enteric nervous system development relies on intestinal colonization by enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs). This is driven by a population of highly migratory and proliferative ENCDCs at the wavefront, but the molecular characteristics of these cells are unknown. ENCDCs from the wavefront and the trailing region were isolated and subjected to RNA-seq. Wavefront-ENCDCs were transcriptionally distinct from trailing ENCDCs, and temporal modelling confirmed their relative immaturity. This population of ENCDCs exhibited altered expression of ECM and cytoskeletal genes, consistent with a migratory phenotype. Unlike trailing ENCDCs, the wavefront lacked expression of genes related to neuronal or glial maturation. As wavefront ENCDC genes were associated with migration and developmental i

SUBMITTER: Stavely R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10108706 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature