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Gene profile of adult neural crest stem cells from hair follicles
Author(s) -
Hu Yao Fei,
SieberBlum Maya
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a146
Subject(s) - stem cell , biology , neural crest , embryonic stem cell , adult stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , multipotent stem cell , progenitor cell , genetics , gene , embryo
We report the first transcriptome for mouse epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI‐NCSC, formerly eNCSC). EPI‐NCSC represent a novel type of multipotent adult stem cell that originates from the embryonic neural crest and resides in the bulge of hair follicles. Our study resolves conflicting opinions in the literature by showing that EPI‐NCSC are distinctly different from other types of skin‐resident stem cells/progenitors. We performed gene profiling by long serial analysis of gene expression (LongSAGE) with mRNA from EPI‐NCSC, embryonic neural crest stem cells (NCSC) and in vitro differentiated embryonic neural crest progeny (NCP). We have identified important differentially expressed genes, including novel genes and disease genes. Further, using stringent criteria we have defined a neural crest stem cell molecular signature that consists of a panel of 19 genes and is representative of both EPI‐NCSC and NCSC. As embryonic remnants in an adult location, EPI‐NCSC combine some advantages of embryonic and adult stem cells. Similar to embryonic stem cells, EPI‐NCSC have a high degree of innate plasticity, they can be isolated as a highly pure population, and they can be expanded in vitro. Similar to other types of adult stem cell, EPI‐NCSC are readily accessible by minimal invasive procedure, and they are conducive to autologous transplantation, which avoids graft rejection. Supported by USPHS grant NS38500.