Reciprocal signals between nerve and epithelium: how do neurons talk with epithelial cells?

Sadaruddin Chachar; Jing Chen; Yumei Qin; Xia Wu; Haiyan Yu; Qiang Zhou; Xiaojiao Fan; Chaochen Wang; Isaac Brownell; Ying Xiao

Reciprocal signals between nerve and epithelium: how do neurons talk with epithelial cells?

Am J Stem Cells. 2021 Oct 15;10(4):56-67. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Sadaruddin Chachar^{1

2}, Jing Chen^{3

4}, Yumei Qin⁵, Xia Wu⁶, Haiyan Yu⁶, Qiang Zhou⁶, Xiaojiao Fan⁷, Chaochen Wang^{3

4}, Isaac Brownell⁸, Ying Xiao¹

Affiliations

¹ Central Lab of Biomedical Research Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang, China.
² Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam 70060, Pakistan.
³ Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang, China.
⁴ Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, International Campus, Zhejiang University Haining 314400, Zhejiang, China.
⁵ School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China.
⁶ Department of Dermatology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang, China.
⁷ School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
⁸ Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda 20892, Maryland, USA.

PMID: 34849302
PMCID: PMC8610808

Abstract

Most epithelium tissues continuously undergo self-renewal through proliferation and differentiation of epithelial stem cells (known as homeostasis), within a specialized stem cell niche. In highly innervated epithelium, peripheral nerves compose perineural niche and support stem cell homeostasis by releasing a variety of neurotransmitters, hormones, and growth factors and supplying trophic factors to the stem cells. Emerging evidence has shown that both sensory and motor nerves can regulate the fate of epithelial stem cells, thus influencing epithelium homeostasis. Understanding the mechanism of crosstalk between epithelial stem cells and neurons will reveal the important role of the perineural niche in physiological and pathological conditions. Herein, we review recent discoveries of the perineural niche in epithelium mainly in tissue homeostasis, with a limited touch in wound repair and pathogenesis.

Keywords: Perineural niche; crosstalk; neurotransmitter; stem cell; tissue maintenance.

Publication types

Review