Cortical γ-Aminobutyric Acidergic Excitation Contributes to Epileptic Activities around Human Glioma Researchers studied the occurrence, networks, cells, and signaling basis of epileptic activities in neocortical slices from the peritumoral surgical margin resected around human brain gliomas. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release The Transcription Factor Fezf2 Directs the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells in the Subventricular Zone toward a Cortical Phenotype By overexpressing the transcription factor Fezf2, a powerful master gene specifying the phenotype of glutamatergic subcerebral projecting neurons, researchers investigated whether the fate of postnatally generated subventricular zone neurons can be altered. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Caspase-8 Promotes NLRP1/NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and IL-1β Production in Acute Glaucoma Investigators used an acute intraocular pressure elevation/glaucoma model to investigate the underlying mechanism of retinal ganglion cell (RCG) death. They show that inhibition of caspase-8 activation significantly attenuates RGC death by down-regulating the activation of Nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1) and NLRP3, thus demonstrating the pivotal role of caspase-8 in the Toll-like receptor 4-mediated activation of inflammasomes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release The E3 Ligase PARC Mediates the Degradation of Cytosolic Cytochrome C to Promote Survival in Neurons and Cancer Cells The ability to withstand mitochondrial damage is especially critical for the survival of postmitotic cells, such as neurons. The abundance of Parkin-like cytoplasmic protein (PARC) positively correlated with differentiation in mouse neurons, and overexpression of PARC reduced the abundance of mitochondrially-released cytosolic cytochrome c in various cancer cell lines and in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. [Sci Signal] Abstract | Press Release ESCRT Mediated Uptake and Degradation of Brain Targeted α-Synuclein-Single Chain Antibody Attenuates Neuronal Degeneration In Vivo Scientists investigated a single chain antibody (scFV) directed against oligomeric α-syn fused to the LDL receptor-binding domain from apoB. The modified scFV showed enhanced brain penetration and was imported into neuronal cells through the ESCRT pathway leading to lysosomal degradation of α-syn aggregates. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Full Article Inhibitory Interneuron Progenitor Transplantation Restores Normal Learning and Memory in ApoE4 Knock-In Mice without or with Aβ Accumulation To determine whether replacing the lost or impaired interneurons rescues neuronal signaling and behavioral deficits, investigators transplanted embryonic interneuron progenitors into the hippocampal hilus of aged apolipoprotein (apo) E4 knock-in mice without or with amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release Transient Muscarinic and Glutamatergic Stimulation of Neural Stem Cells Triggers Acute and Persistent Changes in Differentiation Using both mouse and human iPSC-derived neural progenitor/stem cells (NPSCs), researchers found that a combined transient muscarinic and mGluR1 stimulation inhibited overall neurogenesis but enhanced NPSC differentiation into immature GABAergic cells. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract Astrocyte Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 Promotes Inhibitory Synapse Formation via CaM Kinase II Signaling Researchers identified transforming growth factor beta 1, derived from human and murine astrocytes, as regulator of inhibitory synapse in vitro and in vivo. [Glia] Abstract | Press Release Molecular and Functional Analyses of Motor Neurons Generated from Human Cord Blood Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Investigators present the differentiation of human cord blood derived induced pluripotent stem cells into motor neurons, the cell type primarily affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Selection Based on FOXA2 Expression Is Not Sufficient to Enrich for Dopamine Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Investigators developed a selection approach using lentivirus vectors to express green fluorescent protein under the promoter region of FOXA2, a transcription factor that is expressed in the floor plate domain that gives rise to dopamine neurons during embryogenesis. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract |