Neural Cell News Volume 12.41 | Oct 17 2018

TOP STORY

Microcephaly Modeling of Kinetochore Mutation Reveals a Brain-Specific Phenotype

Researchers used in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to monitor the effect of a point mutation in kinetochore null protein 1, identified in microcephaly patients, during in vitro brain development. They found that neural progenitors bearing a patient mutation showed reduced KNL1 levels, aneuploidy, and an abrogated spindle assembly checkpoint. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Decreased Abundance of TRESK Two-Pore Domain Potassium Channels in Sensory Neurons Underlies the Pain Associated with Bone Metastasis

Overexpressing TRESK in dorsal root ganglion neurons suppressed tumor-induced neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity in bone metastasis model rats, whereas knocking down TRESK increased neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity in normal rats. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Oleanolic Acid Enhances Neural Stem Cell Migration, Proliferation, and Differentiation In Vitro by Inhibiting GSK3β Activity

Scientists found oleanolic acid remarkably promoted neural migration and proliferation of neural stem cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Differentiation was analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, which found MAP2 expression was remarkably increased, whereas Nestin was dramatically decreased. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase Is Important for the Maintenance of Glioblastoma Stemness

Investigators screened FDA approved drugs targeting specific enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway for their ability to inhibit glioblastoma sphere formation. Inhibitors of farnesyl diphosphate synthase, such as alendronate and zoledronate, significantly reduced the formation of glioblastoma spheres, and alendronate was effective at a lower molar concentration than zoledronate. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Adult Neurogenic Deficits in HIV-1 Tg26 Transgenic Mice

Significantly fewer primary neurospheres and a higher percentage of larger sized primary neurospheres were generated from Tg26 neural stem cells (NSCs) than from littermated wild-type mouse NSCs, implying that Tg26 mouse NSCs exhibit deficits in initial differentiation. In vitro differentiation assays revealed that Tg26 mouse NSCs have reduced neuronal differentiation and increased astrocytic differentiation. [J Neuroinflammation] Full Article

Microglia Induces Gas1 Expression in Human Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells to Reduce Tumorigenecity

Researchers found that microglia increased the expression of growth arrest specific 1 (Gas1) transcript and protein in glioblastoma patient-derived brain tumor-initiating cell (BTICs) lines. Using neurosphere assay they showed that RNAi-induced reduction of Gas1 expression in BTICs blunted the microglia-mediated BTIC growth reduction. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Notch1 Promotes Mouse Spinal Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells Proliferation via p-p38-Pax6 Induced Cyclin D1 Activation

Scientists found that Notch1 suppressed p-p38 while promoting Pax6 expression. Functional inhibition of p38 with SB202190 led to increased Pax6 expression and to proliferation, as determined by BrdU. They confirmed that Pax6 induced proliferation in adult mouse spinal cord derived neural stem and progenitor cells. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Controlled Release of Dextrin-Conjugated Growth Factors to Support Growth and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells

Supplementation of mouse neural stem cells with dextrin-growth factor conjugates led to greater and prolonged proliferation compared to unbound epidermal growth factor/basic fibroblast growth factor controls, with no detectable apoptosis after seven days of treatment. Immunocytochemical detection of neural precursor and differentiation markers verified that controlled release of dextrin-conjugated growth factors preserved stem cell properties of mouse neural stem cells for up to seven days. [Stem Cell Res] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Microglia Induce Pdgfrb Expression in Glioma Cells to Enhance Their Migratory Capacity

Investigators showed that spatial location of TAMMs correlated with expansion of a subset of tumor cells that had acquired expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in both mouse and human low-grade and high-grade gliomas. M2-polarized microglia but not bone marrow-derived macrophages induced PDGF receptor B (PDGFRB) expression in glioma cells and stimulated their migratory capacity. [iScience] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Human Brain Development and Its In Vitro Recapitulation

The authors review some human-specific features during brain development and discuss brain organoid technology as a model system. They especially focus on neocortical development. [Neurosci Res] Abstract

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Columbia Scientist Anthony Fitzpatrick and Collaborators Awarded $7.8M to Identify New Targets Against Brain Disease

By determining the molecular signatures of Alzheimer’s, CTE and other conditions, research team to pave way for treatments that target hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease. [The Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University] Press Release

American Brain Tumor Association Launches 2018 Request for Grant Applications to Continue Driving Advances in the Brain Tumor Field

The American Brain Tumor Association, the nation’s first nonprofit organization dedicated to brain tumor education and research, is now accepting Letters of Intent for three research funding opportunities. [2018 American Brain Tumor Association] Press Release

‘We Are Headed for a Very Dark Period.’ Brazil’s Researchers Fear Election of Far-Right Presidential Candidate

Beset by economic woes and dissatisfied with the left-wing politicians in power for most of the past 15 years, Brazil appears poised to make a hard turn and elect a far-right candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, as its next president. His rapid ascent has unnerved local researchers, who worry about the future of Brazilian science, the protection of the country’s biodiversity, and its role in the global struggle against climate change. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Outsider Takes Helm at Indian Research Giant

Shekhar Mande, a structural biologist, took over as director-general of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), headquartered in New Delhi, which operates a network of 40 research labs around the country. Mande is the first outsider to take on the top job at CSIR since 1984. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor (CSH): Neurodegenerative Diseases: Biology & Therapeutics
November 28-December 1, 2018
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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NEW Assistant Professor | Neural Network Plasticity & Integrative Neuroscience (University of Montréal)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Neural and Cancer Biology (French National Institute for Health and Biomedical Research)

PhD Positions – Neuroscience (International Max Planck Research School for Neural Circuits)

Assistant Professor – Department of Neuroscience (Columbia University)

Tenure Eligible Investigator – Neurobiology (Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comte)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Brain Tumors (Columbia University)

PhD Student – Aging and Neurodegeneration (DZNE Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenratie Erkrankungen)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cell Biology of Neural Development (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Assistant Professor – Systems Neuroscience (Carnegie Mellon University)

Tenure Eligible Investigator – Neurobiology (Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comté)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

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