Chromaffin cells: the peripheral brain

Abstract

Chromaffin cells probably are the most intensively studied of the neural crest derivates. They are closely related to the nervous system, share with neurons some fundamental mechanisms and thus were the ideal model to study the basic mechanisms of neurobiology for many years. The lessons we have learned from chromaffin cell biology as a peripheral model for the brain and brain diseases pertain more than ever to the cutting edge research in neurobiology. Here, we highlight how studying this cell model can help unravel the basic mechanisms of cell renewal and regeneration both in the central nervous system (CNS) and neuroendocrine tissue and also can help in designing new strategies for regenerative therapies of the CNS.

A Defined, Controlled Culture System for Primary Bovine Chromaffin Progenitors Reveals Novel Biomarkers and Modulators

“…Immature cells from the adult brain and adrenal medulla share many growth properties, biomarkers, and responses to extracellular stimuli [1]. The contribution of chromaffin progenitors to adrenal function is not yet clearly understood.…”

“…In contrast, culture systems that we developed support Hes3 expression and allowed us to establish Hes3 as a novel potential drug target [3]. Here we extend our work to the adrenal medulla, a gland whose cells share many properties with neural cells [1,[4][5][6]. Chromaffin progenitor cells share properties with neural stem cells (NSCs) including growth properties and biomarker expression [1,7,8].…”

“…1. These factors stimulate a signal transduction pathway that promotes the phosphorylation of the signaling molecule Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) on the serine residue at amino acid position 727 without promoting its phosphorylation on the tyrosine residue at amino acid position 705 [1]. Addition of serum to the culture medium, on the other hand, promotes STAT3-tyrosine phosphorylation, and this, in turn, suppresses Hes3 expression and Cholera toxin increases the content of dopamine relative to total catecholamines (epinephrine + norepinephrine + dopamine) in the expansion phase.…”

“…Here we extend our work to the adrenal medulla, a gland whose cells share many properties with neural cells [1,[4][5][6]. Chromaffin progenitor cells share properties with neural stem cells (NSCs) including growth properties and biomarker expression [1,7,8]. There is increasing interest in the involvement of chromaffin progenitor cells in the function of the adrenal medulla, carcinogenesis, and as dopamine sources in Parkinson's disease [9,10].…”

“…Case in point, we recently showed that the transcription factor Hes3 [1,2] is expressed in putative human cancer stem cells (CSCs) in brain tumor biopsies, but common culture systems of these cells do not support Hes3 expression. In contrast, culture systems that we developed support Hes3 expression and allowed us to establish Hes3 as a novel potential drug target [3].…”