Neural Cell News Volume 14.05 | Feb 12 2020

TOP STORY

Microglia Mediate Forgetting via Complement-Dependent Synaptic Elimination

By introducing CD55 to inhibit complement pathways, specifically in engram cells, scientists demonstrated that microglia regulated forgetting in a complement- and activity-dependent manner. [Science] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Defining the Adult Neural Stem Cell Niche Proteome Identifies Key Regulators of Adult Neurogenesis

Researchers leveraged the spatial separation of the sub-ependymal zone neural stem cell niche and the olfactory bulb, and presented a comprehensive proteomic characterization of these regions in comparison to the cerebral cortex. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Imprinted Maternally Expressed MicroRNAs Antagonize Paternally Driven Gene Programs in Neurons

Investigators functionally characterized a large cluster of microRNAs expressed from the maternally inherited allele to explore the molecular and cellular consequences of imprinted miRNA activity. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Glial Cell Diversity and Methamphetamine-Induced Neuroinflammation in Human Cerebral Organoids

Scientists analyzed 20,758 cells from eight untreated and six methamphetamine-treated cerebral organoids and found that the organoids developed from embryonic stem cells contained a diverse array of glial and neuronal cell types. [Mol Psychiatry] Full Article

Small-Molecule G-Quadruplex Stabilizers Reveal a Novel Pathway of Autophagy Regulation in Neurons

Using an in vitro assay, the authors showed that a putative G-quadruplex-forming sequence in the first intron of the Atg7 gene folded into a G4. [eLife] Full Article

Changes in the Transcriptional Fingerprint of Satellite Glial Cells following Peripheral Nerve Injury

Researchers revealed that satellite glial cells (SGCs) were enriched in genes related to the immune system and cell-to-cell communication. Analysis of SGC transcriptional changes in a nerve injury-paradigm revealed a differential response at three-days versus 14-days postinjury. [Glia] Abstract

In Vitro Modeling of Dendritic Atrophy in Rett Syndrome: Determinants for Phenotypic Drug Screening in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The authors investigated the impact of culturing determinants on several parameters such as neuronal survival, total dendritic length, dendritic endpoints, soma size, cell clusterization, spontaneous activity. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Physiologic Maturation Is Both Extrinsically and Intrinsically Regulated in Progenitor-Derived Neurons

Investigators compared acutely isolated retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) at various developmental stages and RGCs differentiated in vitro from embryonic retinal progenitors for the effects of aging. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Proinflammatory Cytokines Induce Accumulation of Glypican-1-Derived Heparan Sulfate and the C-Terminal Fragment of β-Cleaved APP in Autophagosomes of Dividing Neuronal Cells

Scientists investigated the effect of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 on the interplay between amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and release of heparan sulfate from Gpc-1 in neuronal cells. [Glycobiology] Abstract

Defining the Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cell Secretome: In Vivo versus In Vitro Transcriptomic Differences and Their Correlation to Secreted Protein Levels

Researchers identified hundreds of secreted proteins in conditioned media from in vitro adult mouse hippocampal neural stem and progenitor cells using an antibody array and mass spectrometry. [Brain Res] Full Article

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Serine-Glycine-One-Carbon Metabolism: Vulnerabilities in MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma

The authors summarize new insights into the role of serine-glycine-one-carbon (SGOC) metabolism in the progression of neuroblastoma with highly activated SGOC metabolism. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

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Alkahest Initiates a Phase II Clinical Trial of AKST4290 in Parkinson’s Disease with Funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Alkahest, Inc. announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial of AKST4290, an orally administered CCR3 inhibitor, for treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The trial, AKST4290-211, is funded in part by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and will evaluate the effect of AKST4290 on motor function and activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Alkahest, Inc.] Press Release

Sanofi Brain-Penetrant BTK Inhibitor Meets Primary Endpoint of Phase II Trial in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

The Sanofi Phase IIb study evaluating its investigational Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, an oral, brain-penetrant, selective small molecule, achieved its primary endpoint. [Sanofi (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

FDA Now Allows Certain Lab Animals to Be Retired and Adopted

The US Food and Drug Administration will now permit certain animals used in experiments to retire and be adopted rather than face euthanasia, according to internal documents reviewed by The Hill. Although the policy changed in November, there have not been any public statements from the agency. [The Scientist] Editorial

Trump Proposes Significant Cuts to NIH for 2021 Budget

The president’s request for next year’s federal budget includes a seven percent drop in funding for the National Institutes of Health and reductions for other science agencies. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Pluripotent Stem Cell Training
April 21-24, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neurodevelopment and Brain Tumors (Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Brain Tumor Research (Northwestern University)

Branch Chief – Neuroscience Research (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Neuroscience and Stem Cells (Black Family Stem Cell Institute)

Bioinformatician Positions – Molecular Neurobiology (Karolinska Institutet)

Faculty Position – Neuroimmunology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration (Translational Neurology Group)

Postdoctoral Research Positions – Alzheimer’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury (University of Colorado Boulder)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Associate – Neuron Diversity Mechanisms in Brain Development (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Postdoctoral Associate – Glia and Neuron Interaction (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Positions – Brain Disorders (IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research)

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