Enteric neural crest-derived cells at the invasive wavefront are transcriptionally distinct

Enteric nervous system (ENS) development relies on intestinal colonization by enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDCs). This is driven by a population of highly migratory and proliferative cells at the wavefront, but the unique molecular characteristics of the wavefront are unknown. ENCDCs from the wavefront and the trailing region proximal were isolated from 11.5 days post coitum (dpc) Wnt1-tdT mouse intestine and subjected to RNA-seq. Wavefront ENCDCs were transcriptionally distinct from trailing ENCDCs, and temporal modelling confirmed their relative immaturity. Wavefront ENCDCs exhibited altered expression of ECM and cytoskeletal genes, consistent with a migratory phenotype. Unlike postnatal enteric neural stem cells, wavefront ENCDCs possessed characteristics of cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and lacked neuronal or glial commitment. Overall design: Examination of mRNA profiles in enteric neural crest-derived cells at the invasive wavefront and trailing 1-1.5mm behind the wavefront.