Background: Neural crest cells (NCCs) by responding to several signals and paracrine factors get differentiated into different lineages like peripheral nervous system (PNS), chondrocytes, myofibroblast, endocrine, melanocytes, etc., Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells that share a common origin, paracrine factors (Wnt, FGF, and BMP), and transcription factors (TFs) with the neurons of the nervous system. Objective: Neuronal model for neurodegenerative disorders are limited because of their nonhuman origin and transformation. In this review we propose the use melanocyte as a model system to study neurodegenerative studies. Method: Systematic Literature Review. Results: The similarity between neural crest-derived melanocytes and neurons, makes melanocyte an important model to study several neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disorder. Conclusion: Melanocytes and neurons share common origin i.e. both arise from NCC and share identical signalling molecules and pathways. Neural crest-derived melanocytes can thus serve as a promising model system to study normal and pathological behaviour of less accessible neurons.


中文翻译：

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以黑素细胞为模型系统洞察神经退行性疾病


背景：神经嵴细胞（NCCs）通过响应多种信号和旁分泌因子分化成不同的谱系，如周围神经系统（PNS）、软骨细胞、肌成纤维细胞、内分泌细胞、黑色素细胞等，黑色素细胞是产生色素的细胞，具有共同的特征。来源、旁分泌因子（Wnt、FGF 和 BMP）和转录因子（TFs）与神经系统的神经元有关。目的：神经退行性疾病的神经元模型因其非人类起源和转化而受到限制。在这篇综述中，我们建议使用黑色素细胞作为模型系统来研究神经退行性研究。方法：系统文献回顾。结果：神经嵴衍生的黑素细胞和神经元之间的相似性使黑素细胞成为研究阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病等几种神经退行性疾病的重要模型。结论：黑色素细胞和神经元具有共同的起源，即都来自NCC，并且具有相同的信号分子和通路。因此，神经嵴衍生的黑素细胞可以作为一个有前途的模型系统来研究不易接近的神经元的正常和病理行为。