Schwann cell precursors: a hub of neural crest development

Abstract

Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) are transient glial progenitors that are important for the formation of late neural crest derivatives, yet their heterogeneity and developmental potential remain incompletely understood. In this issue, Kastriti, Faure, von Ahsen et al (2022) use comprehensive single-cell RNA sequencing analyses to identify a transient "hub" state common to SCPs and neural crest cells (NCCs), revealing a striking similarity of SCPs to late migrating NCCs. These results raise important questions about the potential role of such a state in adult tissue regeneration and tumourigenesis.

Figure 1

Neural crest cell / Schwann cell precursor “hub” cells contribute to diverse neural crest derivatives. Single‐cell RNA sequencing reports a multipotent “hub” cell state generated by late migrating neural crest cell (NCC) and Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) that express specific genes such as Sox8. NCC/SCP “hub” cells give rise to different NC‐derived cell populations. A state reminiscent of NCC/SCP “hub” cells re‐emerges in malignant tumours such as melanoma, although a potential contribution of the NCC/SCPs‐like state to tumorigenesis remains to be shown. Likewise, the NCC/SCP “hub” state might play a role during tissue regeneration, given that dedifferentiated Schwann cells were shown to emerge upon nerve injury and wounding of various tissues including the skin. NCC = Neural crest cells, SCPs = Schwann cell precursors, tSCs = terminal Schwann cells, mSCs = myelinating Schwann cells, nmSCs = non‐myelinating Schwann cells.