title: [The glial cell in the ontogenesis of the human peripheral sympathetic nervous system and in neuroblastoma].
abstract: The developmental role of glial cells in the human peripheral sympathetic nervous system is still unclear. Immunohistochemical studies on human embryos and fetuses reveal that the migrating clusters of undifferentiated neuroblasts contain sustentacular cells and are completely separated from adjacent tissues by a peripheral layer of Schwann-like cells and continuous basement membrane. This topographic distribution seems to be strategic and suggests a role of glial cells and extracellular matrix in migration and differentiation processes of undifferentiated neuroblasts. A similar distribution pattern between glial cells/extracellular matrix and neuroblasts can be observed in neuroblastomas exhibiting a microscopic nodular growth pattern, providing additional evidence that neuroblastoma represents an arrest in the differentiation/maturation of cells during the ontogenesis of the human peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Although it is commonly believed that Schwann cells in neuroblastoma arise from cells "infiltrating neoplasia", arising from peripheral nerves adjacent tumor, our ontogenetic findings suggest that the glial cell component of neuroblastoma derives from that normally associated with developing neuroblasts. We discuss the normal development of the three lineages of the human peripheral sympathetic nervous system (ganglial, neuroendocrine or chromaffin, and glial), with special emphasis on glial cells and extracellular matrix components and on the comparison between ontogenesis and neuroblastoma.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grasso
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins