Cadherins in neural crest cell development and transformation

Cadherins constitute a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules involved in c ell-cell interaction, histogenesis and cellular transformation. They have b een implicated in the development of various lineages, including derivative s of the neural crest. Neural crest cells (NCC) emerge from the dorsal part of the neural tube after an epithelio-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mig rate through the embryo. After homing and differentiation, NCC give rise to many cell types, such as neurons, Schwann cells and melanocytes. During th ese steps, the pattern of expression of the various cadherins studied is ve ry dynamic. Cadherins also display plasticity of expression during the tran sformation of neural crest cell derivatives. Here, we review the pattern of expression and the role of the main cadherins involved in the development and transformation of neural crest cell derivatives. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, I nc.