ABSTRACT
The generation of the components that make up the embryonic body axis, such as the spinal cord and vertebral column, takes place in an anterior-to-posterior (head-to-tail) direction. This process is driven by the coordinated production of various cell types from a pool of posteriorly-located axial progenitors. Here, we review the key features of this process and the biology of axial progenitors, including neuromesodermal progenitors, the common precursors of the spinal cord and trunk musculature. We discuss recent developments in the in vitro production of axial progenitors and their potential implications in disease modelling and regenerative medicine.
Footnotes
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing or financial interests.
Funding
The authors’ research is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (New Investigator Research Grant BB/P000444/1 to A.T.), H2020 European Research Council (824070 to A.T.), Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group/Neuroblastoma UK (CCLGA 2019 28 to A.T.), Medical Research Council (MR/S008799/1 to V.W. and MR/V002163/1 to A.T.) and a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI grant (JP19K16157 to F.J.W).
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