title: Neural crest-derived cells sustain their multipotency even after entry into their target tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neural crest cells (NC cells) are highly migratory multipotent cells. Their multipotency is transient at the early stage of their generation; soon after emerging from the neural tube, these cells turn into lineage-restricted precursors. However, recent studies have disputed this conventionally believed paradigm. In this study, we analyzed the differentiation potency of NC-derived cells after their arrival at target tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using Sox10-IRES-Venus mice, we found that the NC-derived cells in the skin, DRG, and inner ear could be divided into two populations: Sox10-positive/Kit-negative cells (Sox10+/Kit- cells) and Sox10- and Kit-positive cells (Sox10+/Kit+ cells). Only the Sox10+/Kit- cells were detected in the intestines. Unexpectedly, the Sox10+/Kit+ cells differentiated into neurons, glial cells, and melanocytes, showing that they had maintained their multipotency even after having entered the target tissues. The Sox10+/Kit+ cells in the DRG maintained their multipotency for a restricted period during the earlier embryonic stages, whereas those in the skin and inner ear were multipotent yet even in later embryonic stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that NC-derived Sox10+/Kit+ cells maintained their multipotency even after entry into the target tissues. This unexpected differentiation potency of these cells in tissues seems to have been strictly restricted by the tissue microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST).
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Motohashi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Natsuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakaoka
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunisada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation
keywords: Sox10; kit; mouse; neural crest