Reassessing the embryonic origin and potential of craniofacial ectomesenchyme.

Peter Fabian, J Gage Crump

Seminars in cell & developmental biology 2023 Mar 30

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Of all the cell types arising from the neural crest, ectomesenchyme is likely the most unusual. In contrast to the neuroglial cells generated by neural crest throughout the embryo, consistent with its ectodermal origin, cranial neural crest-derived cells (CNCCs) generate many connective tissue and skeletal cell types in common with mesoderm. Whether this ectoderm-derived mesenchyme (ectomesenchyme) potential reflects a distinct developmental origin from other CNCC lineages, and/or epigenetic reprogramming of the ectoderm, remains debated. Whereas decades of lineage tracing studies have defined the potential of CNCC ectomesenchyme, these are being revisited by modern genetic techniques. Recent work is also shedding light on the extent to which intrinsic and extrinsic cues determine ectomesenchyme potential, and whether maintenance or reacquisition of CNCC multipotency influences craniofacial repair. Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Peter Fabian, J Gage Crump. Reassessing the embryonic origin and potential of craniofacial ectomesenchyme. Seminars in cell & developmental biology. 2023 Mar 30;138:45-53