| Summary: | Summary: Adult stem cell plasticity, or the ability of somatic stem cells to cross boundaries and differentiate into unrelated cell types, has been a matter of debate in the last decade. Neural-crest-derived stem cells (NCSCs) display a remarkable plasticity during development. Whether adult populations of NCSCs retain this plasticity is largely unknown. Herein, we describe that neural-crest-derived adult carotid body stem cells (CBSCs) are able to undergo endothelial differentiation in addition to their reported role in neurogenesis, contributing to both neurogenic and angiogenic processes taking place in the organ during acclimatization to hypoxia. Moreover, CBSC conversion into vascular cell types is hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) dependent and sensitive to hypoxia-released vascular cytokines such as erythropoietin. Our data highlight a remarkable physiological plasticity in an adult population of tissue-specific stem cells and could have impact on the use of these cells for cell therapy. : Annese et al. find that neural-crest-derived stem cells residing in the adult carotid body are multipotent. These cells have the capacity to contribute to both neurogenesis and angiogenesis during organ acclimatization to hypoxia. Endothelial fate specification is achieved by intrinsic (HIF2α) and extrinsic (EPO) mechanisms. Keywords: angiogenesis and neurogenesis, neural-crest-derived adult stem cell plasticity and multipotency, carotid body physiology, hypoxia
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