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SOX2+ sustentacular cells are stem cells of the postnatal adrenal medulla

Author

Listed:
  • Alice Santambrogio

    (King’s College London
    Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Yasmine Kemkem

    (King’s College London)

  • Thea L. Willis

    (King’s College London)

  • Ilona Berger

    (King’s College London
    Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Maria Eleni Kastriti

    (Medical University Vienna)

  • Louis Faure

    (Medical University Vienna)

  • John P. Russell

    (King’s College London)

  • Emily J. Lodge

    (King’s College London)

  • Val Yianni

    (King’s College London)

  • Bence Kövér

    (King’s College London)

  • Rebecca J. Oakey

    (King’s College London)

  • Barbara Altieri

    (University Hospital, University of Würzburg)

  • Stefan R. Bornstein

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    King’s College London
    University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH))

  • Charlotte Steenblock

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Igor Adameyko

    (Medical University Vienna
    Karolinska Institutet)

  • Cynthia L. Andoniadou

    (King’s College London
    Technische Universität Dresden)

Abstract

Renewal of the catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cell population of the adrenal medulla is necessary for physiological homeostasis throughout life. Definitive evidence for the presence or absence of an adrenomedullary stem cell has been enigmatic. In this work, we demonstrate that a subset of sustentacular cells endowed with a support role, are in fact adrenomedullary stem cells. Through genetic tracing and comprehensive transcriptomic data of the mouse adrenal medulla, we show that cells expressing Sox2/SOX2 specialise as a unique postnatal population from embryonic Schwann Cell Precursors and are also present in the normal adult human adrenal medulla. Postnatal SOX2+ cells give rise to chromaffin cells of both the adrenaline and noradrenaline lineages in vivo and in vitro. We reveal that SOX2+ stem cells have a second, paracrine role in maintaining adrenal chromaffin cell homeostasis, where they promote proliferation through paracrine secretion of WNT6. This work identifies SOX2+ cells as a true stem cell for catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Alice Santambrogio & Yasmine Kemkem & Thea L. Willis & Ilona Berger & Maria Eleni Kastriti & Louis Faure & John P. Russell & Emily J. Lodge & Val Yianni & Bence Kövér & Rebecca J. Oakey & Barbara Alti, 2025. "SOX2+ sustentacular cells are stem cells of the postnatal adrenal medulla," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55289-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55289-5
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