The neural crest is a transient migratory multipotent cell population that 
originates from the neural plate border and is formed at the end of gastrulation 
and during neurulation in vertebrate embryos. These cells give rise to many 
different cell types of the body such as chondrocytes, smooth muscle cells, 
endocrine cells, melanocytes, and cells of the peripheral nervous system 
including different subtypes of neurons and peripheral glia. Acquisition of 
lineage-specific markers occurs before or during migration and/or at final 
destination. What are the mechanisms that direct specification of neural crest 
cells into a specific lineage and how do neural crest cells decide on a specific 
migration route? Those are fascinating and complex questions that have existed 
for decades and are still in the research focus of developmental biologists. 
This review discusses transcriptional events and regulations occurring in neural 
crest cells and derived lineages, which control specification of peripheral 
glia, namely Schwann cell precursors that interact with peripheral axons and 
further differentiate into myelinating or nonmyelinating Schwann cells, 
satellite cells that remain tightly associated with neuronal cell bodies in 
sensory and autonomous ganglia, and olfactory ensheathing cells that wrap 
olfactory axons, both at the periphery in the olfactory mucosa and in the 
central nervous system in the olfactory bulb. Markers of the different 
peripheral glia lineages including intermediate multipotent cells such as 
boundary cap cells, as well as the functions of these specific markers, are also 
reviewed. Enteric ganglia, another type of peripheral glia, will not be 
discussed in this review. GLIA 2015;63:1883-1896.