Development of neuronal and endocrine neural crest derivates.

The neural crest is a transient embryonic structure during vertebrate development that issues stem-cell-like progenitors, which are of high importance for the formation of many organs, including the complete peripheral nervous system, the adrenal gland, the bones of the skull and the heart. 

We study the development of neuronal and endocrine cells from neural crest derived progenitor cells. We focus in particular on the role of local signaling molecules, transcription factors, microRNAs and hypoxia-inducible factors. A precise understanding of the mechanisms involved in the generation of multiple cell types from the neural crest as well as the regulation of proliferation, cell death and progenitor maintenance is of fundamental importance not only to basic science but also for the understanding of neural crest related diseases, like the neural-crest derived tumor neuroblastoma.

For our studies we employ genetic mouse models (knockout, conditional knockout, transgenic), in-vitro models and various histological (Immunostaining, In-situ hybridization and electron microscopy) and molecular biological methods (qPCR, DNA-microarray).

Membres

Publications

Expression pattern of delta-like 1 homolog in developing sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells
El Faitwri, T. and Huber, K., Gene Expression Patterns (2018) | Article

The sympathetic nervous system: malignancy, disease, and novel functions
Huber, K. and Janoueix-Lerosey, I. and Kummer, W. and Rohrer, H. and Tischler, A.S., Cell and Tissue Research (2018) | Article

MiR-124 is differentially expressed in derivatives of the sympathoadrenal cell lineage and promotes neurite elongation in chromaffin cells
Shtukmaster, S. and Narasimhan, P. and El Faitwri, T. and Stubbusch, J. and Ernsberger, U. and Rohrer, H. and Unsicker, K. and Huber, K., Cell and Tissue Research (2016) | Article

Lineage and stage specific requirement for Dicer1 in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla formation and maintenance.
Stubbusch J, Narasimhan P, Hennchen M, Huber K, Unsicker K, Ernsberger U, Rohrer H, (2015) | Article

Segregation of neuronal and neuroendocrine differentiation in the sympathoadrenal lineage.
Huber K, (2015) | Article

The LIM-Homeodomain transcription factor Islet-1 is required for the development of sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells.
Huber K, Narasimhan P, Shtukmaster S, Pfeifer D, Evans SM, Sun Y, (2013) | Article

Cell loss and autophagy in the extra-adrenal chromaffin organ of Zuckerkandl are regulated by glucocorticoid signalling.
Schober A, Parlato R, Huber K, Kinscherf R, Hartleben B, Huber TB, Schütz G, Unsicker K, (2013) | Article

Resolved and open issues in chromaffin cell development.
Unsicker K, Huber K, Schober A, Kalcheim C, (2013) | Article

Sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells share a common progenitor in the neural crest in vivo.
Shtukmaster S, Schier MC, Huber K, Krispin S, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2013) | Article

Synaptic protein and pan-neuronal gene expression and their regulation by Dicer-dependent mechanisms differ between neurons and neuroendocrine cells.
Stubbusch J, Narasimhan P, Huber K, Unsicker K, Rohrer H, Ernsberger U, (2013) | Article

The development of the chromaffin cell lineage from the neural crest.
Huber K, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2009) | Article

Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development.
Huber K, Franke A, Brühl B, Krispin S, Ernsberger U, Schober A, von Bohlen und Halbach O, Rohrer H, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2008) | Article

The sympathoadrenal cell lineage: specification, diversification, and new perspectives.
Huber K, (2006) | Article

Development of adrenal chromaffin cells in Sf1 heterozygous mice.
Lohr J, Gut P, Karch N, Unsicker K, Huber K, (2006) | Article

Distribution of the iron-regulating protein hepcidin in the murine central nervous system.
Zechel S, Huber-Wittmer K, von Bohlen und Halbach O, (2006) | Article

Cholinergic differentiation occurs early in mouse sympathetic neurons and requires Phox2b.
Huber K, Ernsberger U, (2006) | Article

Lack of an adrenal cortex in Sf1 mutant mice is compatible with the generation and differentiation of chromaffin cells.
Gut P, Huber K, Lohr J, Brühl B, Oberle S, Treier M, Ernsberger U, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2005) | Article

Characteristic defects in neural crest cell-specific Galphaq/Galpha11- and Galpha12/Galpha13-deficient mice.
Dettlaff-Swiercz DA, Wettschureck N, Moers A, Huber K, Offermanns S, (2005) | Article

The role of Phox2B in chromaffin cell development.
Huber K, Karch N, Ernsberger U, Goridis C, Unsicker K, (2005) | Article

Expression of neuronal markers suggests heterogeneity of chick sympathoadrenal cells prior to invasion of the adrenal anlagen.
Ernsberger U, Esposito L, Partimo S, Huber K, Franke A, Bixby JL, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2005) | Article

The chromaffin cell and its development.
Unsicker K, Huber K, Schütz G, Kalcheim C, (2005) | Article

c-ret regulates cholinergic properties in mouse sympathetic neurons: evidence from mutant mice.
Burau K, Stenull I, Huber K, Misawa H, Berse B, Unsicker K, Ernsberger U, (2004) | Article

Development of adrenal chromaffin cells is largely normal in mice lacking the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Ret.
Allmendinger A, Stoeckel E, Saarma M, Unsicker K, Huber K, (2003) | Article

Generation of neuroendocrine chromaffin cells from sympathoadrenal progenitors: beyond the glucocorticoid hypothesis.
Huber K, Combs S, Ernsberger U, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K, (2002) | Article

Development of chromaffin cells depends on MASH1 function
Huber, K. and Brühl, B. and Guillemot, F. and Olson, E.N. and Ernsberger, U. and Unsicker, K., Development (2002) | Article

TrkB expression and early sensory neuron survival are independent of endogenous BDNF
Huber, K. and Kuehnel, F. and Wyatt, S. and Davies, A.M., Journal of Neuroscience Research (2000) | Article

TrkB and neurotrophin-4 are important for development and maintenance of sympathetic preganglionic neurons innervating the adrenal medulla.
Schober A, Wolf N, Huber K, Hertel R, Krieglstein K, Minichiello L, Kahane N, Widenfalk J, Kalcheim C, Olson L, Klein R, Lewin GR, Unsicker K, (1998) | Article

Distinct populations of macrophages in the adult rat adrenal gland: a subpopulation with neurotrophin-4-like immunoreactivity.
Schober A, Huber K, Fey J, Unsicker K, (1998) | Article

TrkB and neurotrophin-4 are important for development and maintenance of sympathetic preganglionic neurons innervating the adrenal medulla
Schober, A. and Wolf, N. and Huber, K. and Hertel, R. and Krieglstein, K. and Minichiello, L. and Kahane, N. and Widenfalk, J. and Kalcheim, C. and Olson, L. and Klein, R. and Lewin, G.R. and Unsicker, K., Journal of Neuroscience (1998) | Article

Reduced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in adrenal medulla and loss of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in TrkA-deficient, but not TrkB-deficient, mice.
Schober A, Minichiello L, Keller M, Huber K, Layer PG, Roig-López JL, García-Arrarás JE, Klein R, Unsicker K, (1997) | Article

Reduced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in adrenal medulla and loss of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in TrkA-deficient, but not TrkB- deficient, mice
Schober, A. and Minichiello, L. and Keller, M. and Huber, K. and Layer, P.G. and Roig-López, J.L. and García-Arrarás, J.E. and Klein, R. and Unsicker, K., Journal of Neuroscience (1997) | Article

A chromaffin cell-derived protein induces the NADPH-diaphorase phenotype in cultured rat spinal cord neurons.
Huber KA, Krieglstein K, Unsicker K, (1996) | Article

Induction of Micronucleation, Spindle Disturbances, and Mitotic Arrest in Human Chorionic Villi Cells by 17ß-Estradiol, Diethylstilbestrol, and Coumestrol , in Hormonal Carcinogenesis II
Maik Schuler, Katrin Huber, Heinrich Zankl, Manfred Metzler (1996), ISBN: 9781461275060 | Chapitre de livre

The neurotrophins BDNF, NT-3 and -4, but not NGF, TGF-beta 1 and GDNF, increase the number of NADPH-diaphorase-reactive neurons in rat spinal cord cultures.
Huber KA, Krieglstein K, Unsicker K, (1995) | Article

Trophic factors made by adrenal chromaffin cells and their putative clinical implications.
Unsicker K, Bieger SC, Brühl B, Coelln RV, Henheik PM, Huber K, Krieglstein K, Meyer V, Otto D, Suter-Crazzolara C, Wolf N, Lachmund A, (1995) | Article