Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitors Remyelinate the Brain and Rescue Behavioral Deficits following Radiation Scientists demonstrate the efficient derivation and prospective isolation of human oligodendrocyte progenitors, which, upon transplantation, migrate throughout the major white matter tracts resulting in both structural and functional repair. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release The Glia-Derived Alarmin IL-33 Orchestrates the Immune Response and Promotes Recovery following CNS Injury Researchers identified the nuclear alarmin, interleukin (IL)-33, as an important regulator of the innate immune response after CNS injury. IL-33 is expressed widely throughout the healthy brain and is concentrated in white matter due to predominant expression in post-mitotic oligodendrocytes. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release A Leak Pathway for Luminal Protons in Endosomes Drives Oncogenic Signaling in Glioblastoma In glioblastoma, NHE9 expression is associated with stem/progenitor characteristics, radiochemoresistance, poor prognosis and invasive growth in vitro and in vivo. [Nat Commun] Abstract | Press Release EGFRvIII-Mediated Transactivation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Glioma: Mechanism and Therapeutic Implications Researchers show that MET transactivation in U87MG human glioma cells in vitro is proportional to EGFRvIII activity and involves MET heterodimerization associated with a focal adhesion kinase scaffold. [Oncogene] Abstract Genomic Mosaicism with Increased Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Gene Copy Number in Single Neurons from Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease Brains Scientists report altered genomic mosaicism in single, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease neurons characterized by increases in DNA content and APP gene copy number. [eLife] Full Article | Press Release Transferable Neuronal Mini-Cultures to Accelerate Screening in Primary and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Researchers validated the screening utility of mini-cultures for both mouse neurons and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons by successfully detecting disease-related defects in synaptic transmission and identifying candidate small molecule therapeutics. [Sci Rep] Full Article Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by Selective Inhibition of Rac GTPase versus Global Suppression of Rho family GTPases Is Mediated by Alterations in Distinct Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Cascades Scientists compared the effects of Clostridium difficile toxin B (ToxB) to a selective inhibitor of the Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors, Tiam1 and Trio. In a manner similar to ToxB, selective inhibition of Rac induces cerebellar granule neuron apoptosis that is associated with enhanced caspase-3 activation and reduced phosphorylation of the Rac effector, p21-activated kinase. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Multipotent Stem Cell Factor UGS148 Is a Marker for Tanycytes in the Adult Hypothalamus Researchers demonstrate that UGS148 is highly expressed in embryonic neural stem cells as well as, albeit at low level, in the adult neurogenic niches, the subventricular zone and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. [Mol Cell Neurosci] Abstract The Unfolded Protein Response in the Therapeutic Effect of Hydroxy-DHA against Alzheimer’s Disease Researchers show that 2-hydroxy-DHA, a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) derivate that restores cognitive function in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, modulates unfolded protein response and autophagy in differentiated neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. [Apoptosis] Abstract The Deubiquitinating Enzyme UBPy/USP8 Interacts with TrkA and Inhibits Neuronal Differentiation in PC12 Cells Scientists demonstrate that in PC12 cells the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) receptor interacts with the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8/UBPy in a nerve growth factor-dependent manner, and that it is deubiquitinated in vivo and in vitro by USP8. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract Angiotensin II Triggers Apoptosis via Enhancement of NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Oxidative Stress in a Dopaminergic Neuronal Cell Line By using CATH.a cells, a dopaminergic neuronal cell line stably expressing angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor and angiotensin II type 2 receptor, scientists show that Ang II treatment triggered cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, providing the first evidence that apoptotic cell death contributed to the dopaminergic cell loss induced by Ang II. [Neurochem Res] Abstract Cellular Memory of Hypoxia Elicits Neuroblastoma Metastasis and Enables Invasion by Non-Aggressive Neighboring Cells Using live imaging in a chick embryo model, scientists demonstrate that the exposure of neuroblastoma cells to 1% oxygen for three days was capable of enabling cell migration towards blood vessels, slowing down their velocity within blood vessels to facilitate extravasation and promoting cell proliferation in primary and secondary sites. [Oncogenesis] Full Article | Press Release |