Transplantation of PSA-NCAM expressing embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitors in organotypic mouse gut cultures

Defective migration of neural precursors in the developing gut leads to intestinal aganglionosis (Hirschsprung's disease). To overcome limits associated with the current surgical treatment of this common birth disorder we are exploring regenerative tissue repair of the gut using ES cell-derived neural cells. During embryonic development, the enteric nervous system (ENS) is derived from neural crest cells. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are known to regulate important aspects of ENS progenitor differentiation and migration. PSA-NCAM is regarded as a key modulator of neural migration. Recently, BMPs have been…