Differentiation of enteric neural crest cells transplanted from SOX10-Venus mouse embryonic stem cells into the gut of the endothelin receptor B null mouse model.

Purpose: Failure of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) to correctly colonize the embryonic gut results in Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to differentiate into all tissue-specific cells and lineages, including ENCCs. We investigated the cellular differentiation of ESCs from Sox10-Venus mice into both control and endothelin receptor-B knockout (Ednrb KO) mouse gut to assess each region.

Methods: We established ESCs from Sox10-Venus mice. These cells were cultured for 2 days, then selected and co-cultured with either a dissociated control or Sox10-Venus Ednrb KO mouse gut (both small intestine and colon) on embryonic day (E) 13.5. Four days later, cells were immunolabeled for Tuj1 and visualized using confocal microscopy.

Results: Confocal microscopy revealed that transplanted Sox10-Venu cells from ESCs migrated extensively within the host gut. Moreover, Tuj1-positive neurites were detected in the transplanted ESCs. Tuj1 expression was significantly decreased in aganglionic HD colon compared to controls (p < 0.05) and the HD small intestine (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that an appropriate host environment is crucial for normal and complete colonization of the gut. Further investigations are required to confirm whether modifying this environment can improve the results of this model.