ReviewAdrenal cortical and chromaffin stem cells: Is there a common progeny related to stress adaptation?

- Nestin-positive progenitors persist in both the adrenal medulla and cortex.
- Sympathoadrenal progenitors differentiate to chromaffin cells under stress.
- Nestin is expressed in adrenal tumors and associated with tumor malignancy.
- Chromospheres might be used for transplantation therapies of neurodegenerative diseases.

The adrenal gland is a highly plastic organ with the capacity to adapt the body homeostasis to different physiological needs. The existence of stem-like cells in the adrenal cortex has been revealed in many studies. Recently, we identified and characterized in mice a pool of glia-like multipotent Nestin-expressing progenitor cells, which contributes to the plasticity of the adrenal medulla. In addition, we found that these Nestin progenitors are actively involved in the stress response by giving rise to chromaffin cells. Interestingly, we also observed a Nestin-GFP-positive cell population located under the adrenal capsule and scattered through the cortex. In this article, we discuss the possibility of a common progenitor giving rise to subpopulations of cells both in the adrenal cortex and medulla, the isolation and characterization of this progenitor as well as its clinical potential in transplantation therapies and in pathophysiology.