title: Multipotent glia-like stem cells mediate stress adaptation.
abstract: The neural crest-derived adrenal medulla is closely related to the sympathetic nervous system; however, unlike neural tissue, it is characterized by high plasticity which suggests the involvement of stem cells. Here, we show that a defined pool of glia-like nestin-expressing progenitor cells in the adult adrenal medulla contributes to this plasticity. These glia-like cells have features of adrenomedullary sustentacular cells, are multipotent, and are able to differentiate into chromaffin cells and neurons. The adrenal is central to the body's response to stress making its proper adaptation critical to maintaining homeostasis. Our results from stress experiments in vivo show the activation and differentiation of these progenitors into new chromaffin cells. In summary, we demonstrate the involvement of a new glia-like multipotent stem cell population in adrenal tissue adaptation. Our data also suggest the contribution of stem and progenitor cells in the adaptation of neuroendocrine tissue function in general.
authors: Division of Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Maria F
authors: MF
authors: Rubin de Celis
authors: Department of Clinical Pathobiochemistry and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Ruben
authors: R
authors: Garcia-Martin
authors: Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Dierk
authors: D
authors: Wittig
authors: Division of Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Gabriela D
authors: GD
authors: Valencia
authors: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA.
authors: Grigori
authors: G
authors: Enikolopov
authors: Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Richard H
authors: RH
authors: Funk
authors: Department of Clinical Pathobiochemistry and Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.|Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.|Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Triantafyllos
authors: T
authors: Chavakis
authors: Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.|Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Stefan R
authors: SR
authors: Bornstein
authors: Division of Stem Cell Biology, Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Androutsellis-Theotokis
authors: Division of Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic III, Carl Gustav Carus University Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.|Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Ehrhart-Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: Adrenal medulla; Adult stem cells; Lineage tracing; Nestin; Neural stem cell-like cells; Plasticity; Stress; Sustentacular cells