Hinck · Developmental cell 2004 · narrative review · n=?

The versatile roles of "axon guidance" cues in tissue morphogenesis.

Cited 193 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review of basic developmental biology mechanisms without original human data or systematic review methodology

PubMed 15572123 · doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2004.11.002 · record verified 2026-08-31

What was done

This narrative review synthesized findings on the roles of canonical axon guidance cues—Netrins, Slits, Semaphorins, and Ephrins—outside the nervous system, focusing on morphogenesis in lung, mammary, cardiovascular, and kidney tissues.

What was found

The abstract provides no numerical data. It reports that these guidance cues regulate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions during organogenesis, as well as the transcription and translation of key morphogenetic genes.

Why it matters

The paper frames axon guidance proteins as general morphogenetic regulators across multiple organ systems rather than neural-specific cues.

Limits

No quantitative findings or literature search methodology are reported in the abstract. The findings are mechanistic developmental biology concepts rather than clinical or human trial data.

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