N-myc induces transformation of neural crest stem cells in vitro and in vivo

Cumulating evidence suggests that neuroblastoma (NB) originates from neural crest stem cells (NCSC) of the sympathoadrenal lineage. Pluripotency of NCSC is documented by the ability to differentiate into muscle cells, chromaffin cells, neurons and glial cells, as well as melanocytes, cartilage and bone. To characterize the NCSC population, a cell line is required that can be maintained for many passages, and which retains pluripotency as well as self renewal capacity. We previously established a multipotent NCSC line, JoMa1, which is kept in an undifferentiated state by conditional expression of c-Myc and which…