Articles tagged with Neural Crest Cells
Scientists have identified a set of genes in zebrafish that reactivate after damage to the heart and patch it up like new. The researchers hope to use CRISPR tools to reactivate similar genes in humans and jump-start repair of the heart and other tissues after injury.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered a critical link between the heart and brain in KBG syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. The study found that mutations in the ANKRD11 gene impact both brain development and heart defects.
A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology found that increased hydrostatic pressure can hinder the healthy development of neural crest cells, leading to an increased risk of facial malformations. The researchers suggest that physical cues in the womb, such as pressure, may play a role in shaping facial features.
Researchers at Mass General Hospital have uncovered the role of neural crest cells in forming the overlying scalp skin. The study found that mutations in the KCTD1 and KCTD15 genes impair these cells, leading to a lack of growth factor expression and resulting in aplasia cutis congenita.
A recent study has revealed how genetic and environmental factors interact to cause cleft lip or palate in a developing fetus. The research found that mutations in the e-cadherin gene combined with exposure to inflammatory risk factors during pregnancy can lead to cleft lip, which affects one in 700 live births.
New research suggests neural crest cells retain adaptability even after differentiation, enabling them to 'change their mind' and differentiate anew. This hyper-flexibility has significant implications for regenerative medicine, as these cells have immense potential as treatments to replace and repair damaged body tissue.
A USC-led team of scientists identified the key gene Nr5a2, essential for opening up genome regions that enable neural crest cells to form tendons and salivary glands. Zebrafish and mice lacking this gene exhibited skeletal and tendon defects, as well as failed salivary gland development.
A study published in Disease Models & Mechanisms reveals that premature differentiation of pain-sensing neurons and increased mechanosensory neuron production contribute to the development of pediatric dysphagia. The researchers found that disruptions in neural crest cell interactions lead to cranial nerve dysfunction.
Researchers from the Crump Lab created a series of atlases to study the molecular decisions of cranial neural crest cells, identifying genetic signs that point to specific destinies. Their findings reveal a new approach to understanding head development and regeneration in vertebrates.
Researchers at University College London discovered that embryonic cells can navigate towards harder regions using chemical and mechanical signals, guiding the formation of facial features. This breakthrough could help prevent birth defects and infant mortality by improving understanding of cell migration mechanisms.
Researchers discovered a new epigenetic function for CHD7, which regulates cardiac neural crest cell development. The study also found that a single point mutation in the CHD7 gene can cause severe developmental defects and embryonic lethality.
Laminin plays a crucial role in regulating interactions between migrating neural crest cells and the extracellular matrix. The study found that alterations in LAMR expression contribute to neural crest cell migration failure in Hirschsprung disease, leading to colonization of the distal colon when YIGSR is applied.
Rebekah Charney, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Riverside, has received a five-year Pathway to Independence grant from the NIH to study Mowat-Wilson syndrome. Her research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying neural crest cell development and craniofacial pathologies.
Researchers discovered that a genetic mutation affecting neural crest cell behavior is linked to docility and facial features in modern humans. This study provides the first empirical validation of the self-domestication hypothesis, suggesting that human evolution led to changes in neural crest cells.
Rebekah Charney, a postdoctoral researcher at UCR, has been awarded a $177,000 NIH fellowship to study the earliest events underlying neural crest cell formation. The research aims to address key biological questions and potentially lead to novel therapeutics.
Researchers at UCL have identified a new mechanism for neural crest cells to move from the back of the head to the front, crucial for forming facial features. This discovery could help understand how facial defects form and pave the way for developing new therapies.
A Rice University neurobiologist and cancer researcher has created a new type of zebrafish that produces fluorescent tags in migratory embryonic nerve precursor cells. The goal is to find the origins of neuroblastoma, which could potentially lead to treatments for cancers where SOX proteins play a role.
Researchers have discovered that neural crest cells colonize the spleen during embryogenesis and persist into adulthood, displaying markers indicating a glial lineage. These cells are arranged anatomically adjacent to blood vessels, pericytes, and nerves, suggesting an astrocyte-like phenotype.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified trunk neural crest cells as key players in the development of blood-forming stem cells, which can produce any type of blood cell. This discovery may lead to new avenues for investigating stem cell biology and improving access to bone marrow transplantation.
Researchers discovered that Zika virus infects cranial neural crest cells, which form the bones of the skull, without killing them. Instead, it causes these cells to produce signaling molecules promoting new neural cell formation, potentially leading to smaller-than-average skulls and disproportionate facial features.
Scientists at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered a unifying cellular mechanism underlying Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare congenital disorder. Loss-of-function mutations in genes TCOF1, POLR1C, and POLR1D cause the condition, which affects craniofacial development and survival of progenitor neural crest cells.
A new study provides a reliable method to generate neural crest cells in just five days from human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent cells. The research highlights the critical role of WNT signals, FGF and BMP pathways, and sheds light on the initiation of neural crest cell formation.
Researchers have developed a new method to create patient-specific neural crest cells from skin cells, which can help study and potentially treat rare disorders. The technique accelerates the creation of these cells, allowing for more accurate predictions of disease progression and treatment efficacy.
Researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have developed the first genetic model of syngnathia, a rare congenital disorder characterized by fused upper and lower jaws. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the defect, which affects regions such as the head, heart, or gut.
Researchers identify new gene associated with Hirschprung Disease and demonstrate how deficiencies in two candidate genes synergize to halt gut nervous system formation. Understanding this genetic basis may lead to better diagnostics and treatment for the condition.
A recent study led by Caltech researchers provides new insights into the process of neural crest cell development. The team discovered that DNA-methyltransferase (DNMT) enzyme acts as a switch to determine which cells will remain part of the central nervous system and which will become neural crest cells.
Researchers have successfully developed a stable population of neural crest cells from mice that can differentiate into multiple cell types. This breakthrough enables the study of stem cell biology and human development, as well as potential applications in understanding diseases.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have found a protein controlling DNA accessibility responsible for the cells' developmental flexibility, offering insights into CHARGE syndrome and cancer metastasis. The study suggests that increased CHD7 levels may enhance metastasis in certain cancers.
Researchers investigate how much alcohol exposure during fetal development can lead to facial malformations, brain damage, and other lifelong issues. Exposure to just a few glasses of wine in early pregnancy increases cell death, resulting in irreversible damage to the fetus's face and possibly its brain and spinal cord.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have successfully treated mice with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, by preventing premature cell death. The breakthrough could lead to early treatment of at-risk babies in the womb.
The Trainor Lab has demonstrated that inactivating the p53 gene can prevent Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare craniofacial disorder. By inhibiting the p53 protein or inactivating the gene, neural crest cells can survive and form normal craniofacial structures.
Researchers at UF identified neural crest cells as the source of sharks' electrical ESP, a previously unknown function. This discovery fortifies the idea that early ancestors may have had the ability to detect electric fields.