Neural Cell News Volume 10.27 | Jul 13 2016

TOP STORY

First-Ever Restoration of Vision Achieved in Mice

Scientists coaxed optic-nerve cables, responsible for conveying visual information from the eye to the brain, into regenerating after they had been completely severed, and found that they could retrace their former routes and re-establish connections with the appropriate parts of the brain. [Press release from Stanford University discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Multilaminar Networks of Cortical Neurons Integrate Common Inputs from Sensory Thalamus

Investigators found that connected pairs of pyramidal neurons in layer (L) 4 of mouse visual cortex share more inputs from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus than nonconnected pairs. Vertically aligned connected pairs of L4 and L2/3 neurons were also preferentially contacted by the same thalamocortical axons. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Decreased Function of Survival Motor Neuron Protein Impairs Endocytic Pathways

Researchers examined the impact of survival motor neuron (SMN) depletion in Caenorhabditis elegans and found that decreased function of the SMN ortholog SMN-1 perturbed endocytic pathways at motor neuron synapses and in other tissues. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Post-Translational Modifications of OLIG2 Regulate Glioma Invasion through the TGF-β Pathway

Researchers showed that the modulation of OLIG2 phosphorylation can trigger a switch between proliferation and invasion. Glioma cells with unphosphorylated OLIG2S10, S13, S14 were highly migratory and invasive, both in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Rep] Full Article

Expression of an Activated Integrin Promotes Long-Distance Sensory Axon Regeneration in the Spinal Cord

Scientists examined the synergistic effect of α9 integrin and kindlin-1 on sensory axon regeneration in adult rat spinal cord after dorsal root crush and adeno-associated virus transgene expression in dorsal root ganglia. [J Neurosci] Full Article

Function of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptor Progenitors in Blind Mice

Researchers assessed the therapeutic potential of photoreceptor progenitors derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells using a protocol that is suitable for future clinical trials. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Role of Dimensionality in Neuronal Network Dynamics

Using dissociated hippocampal neurons scientists compared properties of cultures grown on a flat 2D substrates with those formed on 3D graphene foam scaffolds. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CDK7 and miR-210 Co-Regulate Cell-Cycle Progression of Neural Progenitors in the Developing Neocortex

Scientists demonstrated that the microRNA miR-210 is required for normal mouse neural progenitors (NP) cell-cycle progression. Overexpression of miR-210 promoted premature cell-cycle exit and terminal differentiation in NPs, resulting in an increase in early-born postmitotic neurons. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Metastasis Suppressor 1 Regulates Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Neuron Cultures

Scientists investigated the effect of Metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) on neurite outgrowth in primary cerebellar granule and hippocampal neurons. They found that overexpression of MTSS1 in cerebellar granule neurons significantly enhanced dendrite elaboration but inhibited axon elongation. [Neuroscience] Abstract

Regulation and Role of ERK Phosphorylation in Glial Cells Following a Nigrostriatal Pathway Injury

Researchers examined the function of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway on the proliferation and activation of microglia/macrophage and astrocytes after brain injury in mice. [Brain Res] Abstract

Dishing out Mini-Brains: Current Progress and Future Prospects in Brain Organoid Research

The authors focused on the similarities of current organoid methods to in vivo brain development, discussed their limitations and potential improvements, and explored the future venues of brain organoid research. [Dev Biol] Full Article

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

First Drug Target Identified for Children with Rare Type of Brain Tumor

Researchers for the first time have identified a possible target for a new CNS-PNET therapy. [Press release from the Genetics Society of America (EurekAlert!) discussing research to be presented at the Allied Genetics Conference, Orlando] Press Release

InVivo Therapeutics Receives Investigational Testing Authorization from Health Canada

InVivo Therapeutics announced that Health Canada has approved the company’s Investigational Testing Authorization application to commence clinical studies in Canada. [InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp.] Press Release

First Patient Is Randomized in STEMTRA Trial for Traumatic Brain Injury

SanBio, Inc., announced the randomization of the first patient in the STEMTRA Phase II clinical trial study for traumatic brain injury. The stem cell therapy for traumatic brain injury (STEMTRA) trial will examine the effects ofSB623 stem cell treatment in patients with chronic motor deficits resulting from traumatic brain injury. [SanBio, Inc.] Press Release

Major Funders Launch International Repository of Cutting-Edge Cancer Models

U.S. and European funding agencies are launching the Human Cancer Models Initiative, which aims to give the research community tumor cells that behave more like actual human tumors. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 4^th International Oncology Conference
September 29-30, 2016
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Neuroimaging and Informatics (University of Southern California)

NEW Researcher – Neuroanatomy, Neuroinformatics and Brain Atlasing (University of Oslo)

Director of the NIH Brain Initiative (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Stem Cell/Gene Therapy Research (Thomas Jefferson University)

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

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

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)

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.