Injury and stress responses of adult neural crest-derived cells

The document discussed how multipotent neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), known for their ability to differentiate into various cell types during embryonic development, were also found in adult neural crest-derived structures. It was debated whether these adult NCSC-like cells were merely artifacts from isolation or had physiological roles. Recent findings suggested that injury or stress could induce a NCSC-like state in adult cells, such as Schwann cells, through reprogramming. This state allowed NC-derived cells to generate new cell types and activate repair programs, promoting tissue repair or regeneration via paracrine signaling. The evidence indicated that NCSC-like cells in adults played significant physiological roles.