NF1 Regulation of RAS/ERK Signaling Is Required for Appropriate Granule Neuron Progenitor Expansion and Migration in Cerebellar Development Using mouse models to direct conditional NF1 ablation in either embryonic cerebellar progenitors or neonatal granule neuron progenitors, scientists show that neurofibromin is required for appropriate development of cerebellar folia layering and structure. [Genes Dev] Abstract Cell Type-Specific Plasticity of Striatal Projection Neurons in Parkinsonism and L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia Researchers report that indirect pathway spiny projection neurons intrinsic excitability and excitatory corticostriatal synaptic connectivity were lower in Parkinson’s disease models than normal; ​L-DOPA treatment restored these properties. [Nat Commun] Abstract Huntingtin Promotes mTORC1 Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Huntington’s Disease Knocking out huntingtin (Htt) in mouse embryonic stem cells or human embryonic kidney cells attenuated amino acid-induced mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) activity, whereas overexpressing wild-type or poly-Q-expanded Htt in striatal neuronal cells increased basal mTOR activity. [Sci Signal] Abstract Nuclear Protein C23 on the Cell Surface Plays an Important Role in Activation of CXCR4 Signaling in Glioblastoma C23 and CXCR4 of U87 cell line were inhibited by anti-C23 and anti-CXCR4 antibodies, respectively; then C23 and CXCR4 siRNAs were used to knock down endogenous C23 and CXCR4, respectively. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract Cystatin C Protects Neuronal Cells against Mutant Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase-Mediated Toxicity Scientists identified the neuroprotective activity of cystatin C (CysC) against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase-mediated toxicity. They found that exogenously added CysC protected neuronal cells including primary cultured motor neurons. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article TLX Activates MMP-2, Promotes Self-Renewal of Tumor Spheres in Neuroblastoma and Correlates with Poor Patient Survival Researchers show that Drosophila tailless homolog (TLX) is essential for the formation of tumor spheres in three different neuroblastoma cell lines, when grown in neural stem cell media. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Cellular Manganese Content Is Developmentally Regulated in Human Dopaminergic Neurons Researchers hypothesized that small molecules that modulate intracellular manganese (Mn) could provide insight into cell-level Mn regulatory mechanisms. They performed a high throughput screen of 40,167 small molecules for modifiers of cellular Mn content in a mouse striatal neuron cell line. [Sci Rep] Full Article Spinal Cord Injury Induces a Long-Lasting Upregulation of Interleukin-1β in Astrocytes around the Central Canal Researchers show that spinal cord injury in rats increases interleukin-1β expression in astrocytes located around the spinal cord ependyma, a region that also holds a neurogenic potential. [Neuroscience] Abstract Bag5 Protects Neuronal Cells from Amyloid β-Induced Cell Death Scientists found that expression of Bcl-2 associated athanogene 5 (Bag5) is elevated in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease transgenic Tg2576 mice at both mRNA levels and proteins. In vitro experiments indicated that Aβ1-42 treatment led to the upregulation of Bag5 in a dose-dependent manner. [J Mol Neurosci] Abstract SOX4 Inhibits GBM Cell Growth and Induces G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest through Akt-p53 Axis Researchers investigated the role of SOX4 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cre/lox P system was used to generate gain or loss of SOX4 in GBM cells, and microarray analysis uncovered the regulation network of SOX4 in GBM cells. [BMC Neurol] Abstract | Full Article Defining the Role of Oxygen Tension in Human Neural Progenitor Fate Scientists show that low O2 tension and hypoxia-inducible factor activity instead promote appropriate human embryonic stem cell differentiation. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies, we implicate O2 tension as a modifier of a key cell fate decision, namely whether neural progenitors differentiate toward neurons or glia. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract |