Olig2-Dependent Reciprocal Shift in PDGF and EGF Receptor Signaling Regulates Tumor Phenotype and Mitotic Growth in Malignant Glioma Scientists identified mitotic Olig2-expressing cells as tumor-propagating cells in proneural gliomas, elimination of which blocks tumor initiation and progression. Intriguingly, deletion of Olig2 resulted in tumors that grow, albeit at a decelerated rate. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release Zika Virus Depletes Neural Progenitors in Human Cerebral Organoids through Activation of the Innate Immune Receptor TLR3 To investigate how Zika virus (ZIKV) infection leads to microcephaly, scientists used human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids to recapitulate early stage, first trimester fetal brain development. They showed that a prototype strain of ZIKV, MR766, efficiently infects organoids and causes a decrease in overall organoid size that correlates with the kinetics of viral copy number. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release DREADD Modulation of Transplanted DA Neurons Reveals a Novel Parkinsonian Dyskinesia Mechanism Mediated by the Serotonin 5-HT6 Receptor Scientists used a new model where the activity of the transplanted DA neurons can be selectively modulated using a bimodal chemogenetic (DREADD) approach, allowing either enhancement or reduction of the therapeutic effect. They showed that exclusive activation of a cAMP-linked DREADD or serotonin 5-HT6 receptor, located on the grafted DA neurons, is sufficient to induce graft-induced dyskinesias. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release Astrocyte Intermediaries of Septal Cholinergic Modulation in the Hippocampus Investigators showed that acetylcholine release from cholinergic septohippocampal projections causes a long-lasting GABAergic inhibition of hippocampal dentate granule cells in vivo and in vitro. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release Myelinating Satellite Oligodendrocytes Are Integrated in a Glial Syncytium Constraining Neuronal High-Frequency Activity Researchers showed that satellite oligodendrocytes (s-OLs) form compact myelin and action potentials of the host neuron evoke precisely timed Ba2+-sensitive K+ inward rectifying currents in the s-OL. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Video Inhibition of the JAK/STAT Pathway Protects Against α-Synuclein-Induced Neuroinflammation and Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration In vitro, α-SYN exposure activated the JAK/STAT pathway in microglia and macrophages, and treatment with AZD1480 inhibited α-SYN-induced major histocompatibility complex class II and inflammatory gene expression in microglia and macrophages by reducing STAT1 and STAT3 activation. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release β1-Integrin Restricts Astrocytic Differentiation of Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells Researchers showed that β1-integrin expression in the adult mouse dentate gyrus is localized to radial neural stem cells (NSCs) and early progenitors, but is lost in more mature progeny. Although NSCs in the hippocampal subgranular zone normally only infrequently differentiate into astrocytes, deletion of β1-integrin significantly enhanced astrocyte differentiation. [Glia] Abstract Levetiracetam Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced DNA and Synaptic Damage in Neurons Searching for pathways altered by anti-cancer treatments in cultured primary neurons, the authors discovered that doxorubicin, a commonly used anti-neoplastic drug, significantly decreased neuronal survival. The drug promoted the formation of DNA double-strand breaks in primary neurons and reduced synaptic and neurite density. [Sci Rep] Full Article Chitosan Scaffolds Induce Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells to Neural Differentiation: Potential Roles for Spinal Cord Injury Therapy Scientists investigated the role of chitosan scaffolds in the neural differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in vitro and to assess the supportive effects of chitosan scaffolds in an animal model of spinal cord injury. [Cell Tissue Res] Abstract |