Neural Cell News Volume 10.36 | Sep 14 2016

TOP STORY

Glioma-Induced Inhibition of Caspase-3 in Microglia Promotes a Tumor-Supportive Phenotype

Investigators found that glioma-induced microglia conversion was coupled to a reduction in the basal activity of microglial caspase-3 and increased S-nitrosylation of mitochondria-associated caspase-3 through inhibition of thioredoxin-2 activity, and that inhibition of caspase-3 regulated microglial tumor-supporting function. They identified the activity of nitric oxide synthase 2 originating from the glioma cells as a driving stimulus in the control of microglial caspase-3 activity. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

L1-Associated Genomic Regions Are Deleted in Somatic Cells of the Healthy Human Brain

Investigators demonstrated that somatic L1-associated variants are present in crucial neural genes, such as DLG2, and affect 44–63% of the cells in the healthy brain. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Pten and EphB4 Regulate the Establishment of Perisomatic Inhibition in Mouse Visual Cortex

Researchers showed that in mouse visual cortex, strong perisomatic inhibition does not develop if parvalbumin cells lack a single copy of Pten. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Dystroglycan Suppresses Notch to Regulate Stem Cell Niche Structure and Function in the Developing Postnatal Subventricular Zone

Scientists report that the extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor dystroglycan regulates a unique developmental restructuring of ECM in the early postnatal adult subventricular zone. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Lineage-Restricted OLIG2-RTK Signaling Governs the Molecular Subtype of Glioma Stem-Like Cells

The molecular mechanisms underlying dysregulation of OLIG2 function during gliomagenesis remains poorly understood. Scientists showed that OLIG2 modulates growth factor signaling in two distinct populations of glioma stem-like cells, characterized by expression of either the epidermal growth factor receptor or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Molecular Characterization of Down Syndrome Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals a Role for RUNX1 in Neural Differentiation

Researchers characterized embryonic stem cell lines with Down syndrome (DS-ESCs), and focused on the neural aspects of the disease. Their results show that neural progenitor cells differentiated from five independent DS-ESC lines display increased apoptosis and downregulation of forehead developmental genes. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Expandable and Rapidly Differentiating Human Induced Neural Stem Cell Lines for Multiple Tissue Engineering Applications

Scientists established stable human induced neural stem cell lines through the direct reprogramming of neonatal fibroblasts and adult adipose-derived stem cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release

P2X-Mediated AMPA Receptor Internalization and Synaptic Depression Is Controlled by Two CaMKII Phosphorylation Sites on GluA1 in Hippocampal Neurons

Investigators found that GluA1 phosphorylation of S567 and S831 is critical for P2X2-mediated AMPAR internalization and ATP-driven synaptic depression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

ASPP2 Involvement in p53-Mediated HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp120 Neurotoxicity in Mice Cerebrocortical Neurons

The authors used p53 and ASPP2 knockout mice and primary cerebrocortical neuron culture to analyze the role of the interaction between apoptosis-stimulating protein 2 of p53 (ASPP2) with p53 in HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120-induced neurotoxicity. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Existence of Neural Crest–Derived Progenitor Cells in Normal and Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy Corneal Endothelium

Researchers identified a rapidly proliferating subpopulation of cells from the corneal endothelium of adult normal and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy donors that exhibited features of neural crest–derived progenitor cells by showing absence of senescence with passaging, propensity to form spheres, and increased colony forming efficacy compared with the primary cells. [Am J Pathol] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Self-Organizing 3D Human Neural Tissue Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Recapitulate Alzheimer’s Disease Phenotypes

Scientists report brain organoids that use pluripotent stem cells derived from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and recapitulate AD-like pathologies such as amyloid aggregation, hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and endosome abnormalities. [PLoS One] Full Article

Homeostatic Plasticity of Subcellular Neuronal Structures: From Inputs to Outputs

The authors review different forms of structural plasticity in neurons and the effects they may have on network function. [Trends Neurosci] Abstract

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

Downs Receives BrightFocus Foundation Glaucoma Research Grant

The BrightFocus Foundation has awarded a glaucoma research grant of more than $149,000 to J. Crawford Downs, Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for his work on a new wireless system to measure and control fluid pressure around the optic nerve. [The University of Alabama] Press Release

NIH Award Expands Landmark Alzheimer’s Biomarker Study

The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) — the long-running National Institutes of Health-supported study investigating brain and fluid biomarkers of the disease — enters a new phase of discovery with the launch of ADNI3. With the recent NIH award of approximately $40 million over the next five years—coupled with anticipated private sector contributions of $20 million through the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) — ADNI3 will use cutting-edge technologies in brain imaging as it recruits hundreds of new volunteers. [National Institute of Health] Press Release

Neural Analytics Inc. Receives $3 Million NIH Grant to Develop Brain Diagnostic & Monitoring Technologies to Accelerate Detection of Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke

Neural Analytics Inc. announced that the company has received a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a clinical validation study of its portable brain monitoring platform. [Neural Analytics, Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release

Flex Pharma Initiates Phase II Efficacy Study in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Flex Pharma, Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase II efficacy study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients in Australia with FLX-787, its chemically synthesized, single molecule, transient receptor potential ion channel activator, formulated as an oral tablet. [Flex Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

Asterias Biotherapeutics Announces Positive Efficacy Data in Patients with Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries Treated with AST-OPC1

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. presented positive interim efficacy data from the 10 million cell cohort in the company’s ongoing AST-OPC1 SCiSTAR Phase I/IIa multicenter clinical study in complete cervical spinal cord injury patients. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Reproducibility: Respect Your Cells!

Numerous variables can torpedo attempts to replicate cell experiments, from the batch of serum to the shape of growth plates. But there are ways to ensure reliability. [Nature News] Editorial

Outsourcing, Coming Soon to a Lab near You

A move toward outsourcing could offer entrepreneurial opportunities for scientists who have expertise that can be applied to doing experimental work for clients. Traditionally, companies started by scientists have sold products coming out of academic research. Scientific outsourcing firms, on the other hand, would sell the research process itself. [Science Careers] Editorial

A Shady Market in Scientific Papers Mars Iran’s Rise in Science

Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, is expected to take up work on a bill that would outlaw shady practices in scientific publishing. [Science] Editorial

Medical Nobel Prize Committee Deals with Surgical Scandal

In an unprecedented move, the group that selects the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — the Nobel Assembly — has asked two of its members to resign following a scandal at the institute that supplies the assembly’s members. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cell Culture & Downstream World Congress 2017
February 21-22, 2017
Munich, Germany

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – In Vitro Assays and Image Analysis (University of Oxford)

NEW International PhD Studentships (Medical Research Council)

NEW Assistant Professor (Tenure) – Developmental Biology (Florida State University)

Assistant Professor – Neural Circuits (University of Pittsburgh)

Group Leader – Stem Cells and Aging (The University of Queensland)

Faculty – Developmental Neurobiology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position/Academic Advisor – Neural Engineering (University of Freiburg)

Research Group Leader – Neuroscience (Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Sensorimotor Neuroscience (Western University)

Postdoctoral Position – Neural Substrates of Taste-Guided Behaviors (University of Illinois)

Faculty Positions – Neural Engineering (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience (University of California Riverside)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neuroscience (Max Planck Society)

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