β1-Integrin Function and Interplay during Enteric Nervous System Development

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is derived from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs), which colonize the developing gut early in vertebrate embryogenesis. These cells aggregate and differentiate into glial and neuronal subtypes, forming an interconnected ganglia network organized into two plexuses along the rostrocaudal axis of the intestine. During their migration, ENCCs interact with one another, the surrounding cells of the gut wall, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble factors. These multiple signals regulate ENCC survival and fate. We focus here on the role of β1-integrins, the major ECM receptors, in the regulation of ENCC behavior. We describe the function of these molecules and their possible interplay with other adhesion molecules, growth factor receptors, and transcription factors involved in ENS development. We also discuss the signaling cascades involved and the regulation of integrin expression.