Neural Cell News Volume 10.21 | Jun 1 2016

TOP STORY

Upregulation of Glutaredoxin-1 Activates Microglia and Promotes Neurodegeneration: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease

Scientists investigated the potential impact of glutaredoxin-1 (Grx1) upregulation in the CNS on dopaminergic viability. Up-regulation of Grx1 in microglia corresponded to increased death of neuronal cells in co-culture. [Antioxid Redox Signal] Abstract

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Pbx1 Is Required for Adult SVZ Neurogenesis

Using a genetic loss-of-function model, the authors showed that Pbx1 is an early regulator of subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenesis. Targeted deletion of Pbx1 by retroviral transduction of Cre recombinase into Pbx2-deficient SVZ stem- and progenitor cells carrying floxed alleles of Pbx1 significantly reduced the production of neurons and increased the generation of oligodendrocytes. [Development] Abstract

Artemisinin Conferred ERK Mediated Neuroprotection to PC12 Cells and Cortical Neurons Exposed to Sodium Nitroprusside-Induced Oxidative Insult

Artemisinin, a well-known anti-malaria drug was found to suppress sodium nitroprusside-induced cell death in PC12 cells and brain primary cortical neuronal cultures. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract

Dopamine Receptor Antagonists Enhance Proliferation and Neurogenesis of Midbrain Lmx1a-Expressing Progenitors

Scientists showed that cells expressing Lmx1a and other progenitor markers remain in the midbrain aqueductal zone beyond the major dopamine neurogenic period. These cells express dopamine receptors, are located in regions heavily innervated by midbrain dopamine fibers and their proliferation can be stimulated by antagonizing dopamine receptors, ultimately leading to increased neurogenesis in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Pcdh19 Loss-of-Function Increases Neuronal Migration In Vitro but Is Dispensable for Brain Development in Mice

Researchers validated a murine Pcdh19 null allele in which a β-Geo reporter cassette is expressed under the control of the endogenous promoter. Analysis of β-Geo reporter activity revealed widespread but restricted expression of PCDH19 in embryonic, postnatal and adult brains. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PTEN-Regulated AKT/FoxO3a/Bim Signaling Contributes to Human Cell Glioblastoma Apoptosis by Platinum-Maurocalcin Conjugate

The authors showed that Pt-1-D-amino acids induces apoptosis in human U87 glioblastoma cells through reactive oxygen species-dependent modulation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a signaling pathway. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

β-Ecdysterone Protects SH-SY5Y Cells against 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Apoptosis via Mitochondria-Dependent Mechanism: Involvement of p38^MAPK–p53 Signaling Pathway

Pretreatment with β-ecdysterone significantly reduced 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells by a mitochondria-dependent pathway, as indicated by downregulation of Bax and PUMA expression, suppressing ΔΨm loss, inhibiting cytochrome c release, and attenuating caspase-9 activation. [Neurotox Res] Abstract

MicroRNA-146a Represses LRP2 Translation and Leads to Cell Apoptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists investigated the role of microRNA-146a (miRNA-146a), a brain enriched miRNA, which is upregulated in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Overexpression of miRNA-146a in SH-SY5Y cells significantly decreased lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2 (Lrp2) expression, resulting in reduction of Akt activation and induction of proapoptotic caspase-3, thereby increasing cell apoptosis. [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Acrylamide Affects Proliferation and Differentiation of the Neural Progenitor Cell Line C17.2 and the Neuroblastoma Cell Line SH-SY5Y

The neural progenitor cell line C17.2 and the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y were used to study proliferation and differentiation as alerting indicators for developmental neurotoxicity. [Toxicol In Vitro] Abstract

Hes1: The Maestro in Neurogenesis

The authors focus on how a dynamic gene, Hes1, is involved in neurogenesis with the view of its regulation and functional implications. Initially, they reviewed the immense functional significance drawn by this maestro during neural development in a context-dependent manner. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field.

StemCells, Inc. Announces Termination of Phase II Pathway Study following Review of Data

StemCells, Inc. announced its decision to terminate the company’s Phase II Pathway Study in spinal cord injury following an in-depth review of data from the study and after obtaining the concurrence of the study’s Interim Analysis Data Monitoring Committee [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

GeNeuro Announces First Patients Treated in Phase IIb Study for Multiple Sclerosis

GeNeuro announced that the first patients have been treated with its lead product, GNbAC1, in a Phase IIb study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. [GeNeuro SA] Press Release

Biogen and AbbVie Receive FDA Approval of Once-Monthly ZINBRYTA™ (Daclizumab) for Multiple Sclerosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ZINBRYTA™, a new once-monthly, self-administered, subcutaneous treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, Biogen and AbbVie announced. [AbbVie Inc.] Press Release

Biogen’s Investigational Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Aducanumab Accepted into European Medicines Agency’s PRIME Program

Biogen announced that aducanumab, its investigational treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease, was accepted into the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) program. PRIME aims to bring treatments to patients faster by enhancing the EMA’s support for the development of investigational medicines for diseases without available treatment or in need of better treatment options. [Biogen] Press Release

NEW European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) 2016
October 12-16, 2016
Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the neural cell community.

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cell Biology (Boston University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience (Inserm-ENS)

Principal Scientist and Team Lead (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientific Communications and Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Signaling within Neural Stem Cell Niches In Vitro and In Vivo (Francis Crick Institute)

PhD Student Positions – Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology/Neurosciences/Neurogenetics (University of Fribourg)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Neuroscience (McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Associate – Neuroscience (Yale University)

Investigators – Aging and Metabolism Research (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurodegenerative Disease Biology (Johns Hopkins University)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics and Brain Transcriptomics (Cornell University)

Faculty Positions – Brain Research (IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Peking University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience (University of Maryland Baltimore)

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