Abstract
The cerebral cortex is an evolutionarily advanced brain structure that computes higher motor, sensory and cognitive functions. Its complex organization reflects the exquisite cell migration and differentiation patterns that take place during embryogenesis. Recent evidence supports an essential role for cell migration in shaping the developing cerebral cortex via direct cellular contacts and spatially organized diffusible cues that regulate the establishment of its cytoarchitecture and function. Identifying the nature of the crosstalk between cell populations at play during brain development is key to understanding how cerebral cortical morphogenesis proceeds in health and disease.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank M. H. Adhikari for critical reading. C.G.S. is paid by F.R.S.-FNRS (EOS 0019118F-RG36). E.P. is paid by the IAP-VII network P7/20 and a Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) short-term fellowship. L.N. is a senior research associate of the F.R.S-FNRS at the University of Liège. His research is funded by F.R.S.-FNRS (EOS 0019118F-RG36, CDR J.0028.18 and PDR T.0073.15), the Fonds Léon Fredericq, the Fondation Médicale Reine Elisabeth, the Fondation Simone et Pierre Clerdent, the Belgian Science Policy (IAP-VII network P7/20), the ARC (ARC11/16-01), the ERANET Neuron STEM-MCD and the ERANET Neuron NEUROTALK.
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Glossary
- Cytoarchitectonics
-
The cellular composition of a biological tissue.
- Cortical wall
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Part of the dorsal forebrain that corresponds to the presumptive cerebral cortex.
- Interneuron specification
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Cellular process engaging a precursor to self-autonomously acquire functional and morphological features of interneurons when placed in a neutral environment.
- Leading process
-
Principal neurite of a migrating cell located ahead of the soma that contributes to its navigation along a migration path.
- Polarity reversal
-
Inversion of the polarity of a migrating cell along its moving axis.
- Nucleokinesis
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Forward displacement of the nucleus in the leading process of a migrating neuron driven by dynamic changes of the cytoskeleton and in particular actomyosin contraction taking place around the nucleus. In moving neurons, the nucleokinesis is cyclic and paces their migration.
- Subpallial sorting
-
Biological process contributing to the sorting of cells born in the ventral forebrain (the subpallium) into the dorsal forebrain (the pallium).
- Anterior entopeduncular area
-
Region of the ventral forebrain that hosts progenitors of GABAergic and cholinergic interneurons as well as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.
- Neocortical arealization
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Biological process that organizes the tangential subdivision of distinct neocortical fields responsible for computing higher cerebral functions.
- Morphogens
-
Non-uniformly distributed molecules that govern biological processes contributing to morphogenesis in a developing organism.
- Multipolar migration
-
Cell migration mode characterized by the continuous extension and retraction of new neurites from the soma.
- Boyden chamber assay
-
Cell chemotaxis assay based on a chamber of two medium-filled compartments separated by a microporous membrane.
- Nanotopography
-
Specific surface features of biomaterials generated at the nanoscopic scale.
- Random walk
-
Cell migration mode characterized by constant changes of movement angle.
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Silva, C.G., Peyre, E. & Nguyen, L. Cell migration promotes dynamic cellular interactions to control cerebral cortex morphogenesis. Nat Rev Neurosci 20, 318–329 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-019-0148-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-019-0148-y
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