title: Toward a better understanding of enteric gliogenesis.
abstract: Most of gastrointestinal functions are controlled by the enteric nervous system (ENS), which contains a vast diversity of neurons and glial cells. In accordance with its key role, defective ENS formation is the cause of several diseases that affect quality of life and can even be life-threatening. Treatment of these diseases would greatly benefit from a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ENS formation. In this regard, although several important discoveries have been made over the years, how the full spectrum of enteric neuronal and glial cell subtypes is generated from neural crest cells during development still remains enigmatic. Because they also have stem cell properties, such knowledge would be especially important for the enteric glial cell lineage. In a recent study, we identified the NR2F1 transcription factor as a new key regulator of enteric gliogenesis. Here we discuss our recent findings and briefly review what is already known about the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in enteric gliogenesis, with an emphasis on Hedgehog and Notch signaling.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and BioMed Research Center, Faculty of Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charrier
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and BioMed Research Center, Faculty of Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal , Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pilon
keywords: Hedgehog; Hirschsprung disease; NR2F1; NR2F2; Notch; Waardenburg syndrome; enteric glial cells; enteric nervous system; gliogenesis; neural crest cells