TY - JOUR
T1 - Neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells require Wnt signaling for their development and drive invagination of the telencephalic midline
AU - Choe, Youngshik
AU - Zarbalis, Konstantinos
AU - Pleasure, Samuel J.
PY - 2014/2/6
Y1 - 2014/2/6
N2 - Embryonic neural crest cells contribute to the development of the craniofacial mesenchyme, forebrain meninges and perivascular cells. In this study, we investigated the function of β-catenin signaling in neural crest cells abutting the dorsal forebrain during development. In the absence of β-catenin signaling, neural crest cells failed to expand in the interhemispheric region and produced ectopic smooth muscle cells instead of generating dermal and calvarial mesenchyme. In contrast, constitutive expression of stabilized β-catenin in neural crest cells increased the number of mesenchymal lineage precursors suggesting that β-catenin signaling is necessary for the expansion of neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, the loss of neural crest-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) leads to failure of telencephalic midline invagination and causes ventricular system defects. This study shows that β-catenin signaling is required for the switch of neural crest cells to MSCs and mediates the expansion of MSCs to drive the formation of mesenchymal structures of the head. Furthermore, loss of these structures causes striking defects in forebrain morphogenesis.
AB - Embryonic neural crest cells contribute to the development of the craniofacial mesenchyme, forebrain meninges and perivascular cells. In this study, we investigated the function of β-catenin signaling in neural crest cells abutting the dorsal forebrain during development. In the absence of β-catenin signaling, neural crest cells failed to expand in the interhemispheric region and produced ectopic smooth muscle cells instead of generating dermal and calvarial mesenchyme. In contrast, constitutive expression of stabilized β-catenin in neural crest cells increased the number of mesenchymal lineage precursors suggesting that β-catenin signaling is necessary for the expansion of neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, the loss of neural crest-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) leads to failure of telencephalic midline invagination and causes ventricular system defects. This study shows that β-catenin signaling is required for the switch of neural crest cells to MSCs and mediates the expansion of MSCs to drive the formation of mesenchymal structures of the head. Furthermore, loss of these structures causes striking defects in forebrain morphogenesis.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0086025
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0086025
M3 - Article
C2 - 24516524
AN - SCOPUS:84895562161
VL - 9
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 2
M1 - e86025
ER -