Neural Cell News Volume 10.23 | Jun 15 2016

TOP STORY

Dissecting Direct Reprogramming from Fibroblast to Neuron Using Single-Cell RNA-Seq

Scientists used single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) at multiple time points to dissect direct reprogramming from mouse embryonic fibroblasts to induced neuronal cells. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Inhibition of Dopamine Receptor D4 Impedes Autophagic Flux, Proliferation, and Survival of Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Scientists interrogated 680 neurochemical compounds in patient-derived glioblastoma neural stem cells (GNS) to determine the effects on proliferation and survival. Compounds that modulated dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic signaling pathways selectively affected GNS growth. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Zeb2 Is Essential for Schwann Cell Differentiation, Myelination and Nerve Repair

Researchers showed that transcriptional repression, mediated by the zinc-finger protein Zeb2, is essential for differentiation and myelination. Mice lacking Zeb2 in Schwann cells develop a severe peripheral neuropathy, caused by failure of axonal sorting and virtual absence of myelin membranes. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

PRMT5–PTEN Molecular Pathway Regulates Senescence and Self-Renewal of Primary Glioblastoma Neurosphere Cells

Investigators report the critical role of protein arginine methyltransferase enzyme 5 in glioblastoma (GBM) differentiated cells grown in serum and GBM neurospheres grown as neurospheres in vitro. [Oncogene] Abstract | Press Release

MicroRNA-124 Loaded Nanoparticles Enhance Brain Repair in Parkinson’s Disease

In vitro, microRNA-124 nanoparticles were efficiently internalized by neural stem/progenitors cells and neuroblasts and promoted their neuronal commitment and maturation. [J Control Release] Abstract

iPSC-Derived LewisX⁺CXCR4⁺β1^–Integrin⁺ Neural Stem Cells Improve the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Phenotype by Preserving Motor Neurons and Muscle Innervation in Human and Rodent Models

Scientists demonstrated that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural stem cells, in particular the subpopulation positive for LewisX-CXCR4-β1-integrin, enhance neuronal survival and axonal growth of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-derived motor neurons co-cultured with toxic ALS astrocytes, acting on both autonomous and non-autonomous ALS disease features. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract

HDAC6 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Confers Resistance to Temozolomide in Glioblastoma

Scientists report that histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is overexpressed in glioblastoma tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of HDAC6 promotes the proliferation and spheroid formation of glioblastoma cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Preserved Neurogenesis in Non-Demented Individuals with AD Neuropathology

Researchers determined the number of hippocampal neural stem cells and investigated the expression of several miRNAs in non-demented with Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects. Laser-capture microdissection of autopsy human hippocampus dentate gyrus and qRT-PCR miRNA analyses were combined with immunofluorescence in this study. [Sci Rep] Abstract

Bioinformatic Analysis Reveals the Expression of Unique Transcriptomic Signatures in Zika Virus Infected Human Neural Stem Cells

The authors demonstrated for the first time that many of cellular pathways correlate with clinical pathologies following Zika virus infection such as microcephaly, congenital nervous system disorders and epilepsy. [Cell Biosci] Full Article

Large-Scale Production of Mature Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Three-Dimensional Suspension Culture System

The authors present differentiation protocols for the generation of distinct subtypes of neurons in a highly reproducible manner, with minimal experiment-to-experiment variation. These neurons form synapses with neighboring cells, exhibit spontaneous electrical activity, and respond appropriately to depolarization. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article

Microfluidic Systems for Stem Cell-Based Neural Tissue Engineering

The authors describe the basics of stem cells and tissue engineering as well as microfluidics-based tissue engineering approaches. They review recent testing of various microfluidic approaches for stem cell-based neural tissue engineering. [Lab Chip] Abstract

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

Flex Pharma Initiates Phase II Efficacy Study in Multiple Sclerosis

Flex Pharma, Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase II efficacy study in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Australia. The randomized, controlled, blinded, cross-over study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FLX-787, the company’s single molecule, chemically synthesized, transient receptor potential ion channel activator, in approximately 50 patients who suffer from cramps, spasms and/or spasticity as a consequence of MS. [Flex Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

$2 Million Prize Motivates Field toward Tool to Visualize Key Parkinson’s Protein in the Brain

The Michael J. Fox Foundation announced a $2 million prize to motivate the research field to develop an alpha-synuclein imaging tracer. Such a tool would allow researchers to measure alpha-synuclein in the brain of a living person, which would lead to earlier and more precise diagnosis, progression tracking, and more efficient and effective testing of new drugs. [The Michael J. Fox Foundation] Press Release

BioTime Announces $2.2 Million Grant for Further Development of Dry-AMD Program

BioTime, Inc. and its subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. announced that Cell Cure has been awarded a new grant for 2016 of 8.4 million shekels from the Israel Innovation Authority of the Ministry of Economy and Industry. [BioTime, Inc.] Press Release

NEW 10^th Forum of Neuroscience (FENS)
July 2-6, 2016
Copenhagen, Denmark

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher Positions – Epigenetic and Transcriptional States of Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells (Karolinska Institutet)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Brain Injury and Repair (University of Pennsylvania)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Associate – Brain Homeostasis and Aging (North Carolina State University)

Principal Scientist and Team Lead (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Neuroscience (The Allen Institute for Brain Science)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Pharmacology (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cell Biology (Boston University)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience (Inserm-ENS)

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)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Neural Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.