Endochondral Potential of Trunk Neural Crest Cells

神经嵴细胞（NCCs）是外胚层来源的干细胞，分化成丰富的神经嵴细胞

Neural crest cells (NCCs) are ectodermally derived stem cells that differentiate into a wealth of derivatives. NCCs from the cranial region of higher vertebrates generate cartilage and bone. Trunk NCCs don't generate bone or cartilage under normal development, but they can be induced to do so in vitro, or when experimentally grafted in specific bone forming territories of the cranium. We have recently shown that the induction of cranial NCCs occurs during gastrulation, much earlier than previously thought (Basch et al. 2006). Additionally we uncover a neural crest induction mechanism independent of mesodermal and neural tissues. These results depart from current dogmas of neural crest induction and provide a new timeframe for NCCs development. The aim of this proposal is to identify the molecular principles governing the chondrogenic differentiation potential of. this critical stem cell for vertebrate development. We propose to challenge the bone and cartilage potential of trunk NCCs through grafting strategies to prove the role of early signals of induction. Then we will test the effects of caudalizing signals (FGF and Wnt) in the chondrogenic differentiation potential of both trunk and cranial NCC.