Introduction

At the beginning of the 20th century, Van der Hoeve highlighted that the common ectodermic origin of skin and nervous system might be the cause of neurocutaneous syndromes or phakomatoses.1 However, it was soon pointed out that mesodermal and endodermal tissues were involved too.2 Furthermore, with the advent of molecular genetics, the traditional concept of three germ layers has been challenged because the expression of many developmental genes is not restricted to one germinal layer. At the present moment, there are many clinical and molecular clues supporting the new concept that an abnormality in the formation, migration or differentiation of neural crest cells is the common pathogenetic factor for most, if not all, primary neurocutaneous syndromes.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research