Biology of the adult enteric neural stem cell.
An increasing body of evidence has accumulated in recent years supporting the existence of neural stem cells in the adult gut. There are at least three groups that have obtained them using different methodologies and have described them in vitro. There is a growing amount of knowledge on their biology, but many questions are yet unanswered. Among these questions is whether these cells are part of a permanent undifferentiated pool or are recruited in a regular basis; in addition, the factors and genes involved in their survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation are largely unknown. Finally, with between 10 and 20% of adults suffering from diseases involving the enteric nervous system, most notably irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux, what is the possible role of enteric nervous stem cells in health and disease?
Estrada-Mondaca
Sandino
S
Grupo de Medicina Regenerativa, Unidad de Ingeniería de Tejidos y Terapia Celular, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Secretaría de Salud, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico.
Carreón-Rodríguez
Alfonso
A
Belkind-Gerson
Jaime
J
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors