Neural Cell News Volume 11.01 | Jan 11 2017

TOP STORY

CDYL Deficiency Disrupts Neuronal Migration and Increases Susceptibility to Epilepsy

Researchers report that chromodomain Y-like (CDYL) is critical for neuronal migration in mice. Knocking down CDYL caused neuronal migration defects and disrupted both mobility and multipolar-to-bipolar transition of migrating neurons. They found that CDYL regulates neuronal migration by transcriptionally repressing RhoA. In addition, CDYL deficiency increased the excitability of cortical pyramidal neurons and the susceptibility of mice to convulsant-induced seizures. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Anti-Warburg Effect Elicited by the cAMP-PGC1α Pathway Drives Differentiation of Glioblastoma Cells into Astrocytes

Scientists established an induced differentiation model of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) using cAMP activators that specifically directed GBM differentiation into astroglia. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis are involved in induced differentiation of GBM. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP reverses the Warburg effect, as evidenced by increased oxygen consumption and reduced lactate production. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

RAD51 Is a Selective DNA Repair Target to Radiosensitize Glioma Stem Cells

The authors used clinical samples and patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) to confirm that the double-strand break (DSB) repair protein RAD51 is highly expressed in GSCs, which are reliant on RAD51-dependent DSB repair after radiation. RAD51 expression and RAD51 foci numbers fall when these cells move toward astrocytic differentiation. In GSCs, the small-molecule RAD51 inhibitors RI-1 and B02 prevent RAD51 focus formation, reduce DNA DSB repair, and cause significant radiosensitization. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release

iPSC-Derived Retina Transplants Improve Vision in rd1 End-Stage Retinal-Degeneration Mice

By transplanting mouse induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal tissue (miPSC retina) in the end-stage retinal-degeneration model (rd1), scientists visualized the direct contact between host bipolar cell terminals and the presynaptic terminal of graft photoreceptors by gene labeling, showed light-responsive behaviors in transplanted rd1 mice, and recorded responses from the host retina with transplants by ex vivo micro-electroretinography and ganglion cell recordings using a multiple-electrode array system. Their data provides a proof of concept for transplanting embryonic stem cell/iPSC retinas to restore vision in end-stage retinal degeneration. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release

A Modified Collagen Scaffold Facilitates Endogenous Neurogenesis for Acute Spinal Cord Injury Repair

Many myelin-associated inhibitors in the spinal cord injury microenvironment limit the ability of spinal cord neural stem cells to regenerate into neurons. The authors used a linearly ordered collagen scaffold to prevent scar deposition, guide nerve regeneration and carry drugs to neutralize the inhibitory molecules. A collagen-binding EGFR antibody Fab fragment, CBD-Fab, was constructed to neutralize the myelin inhibitory molecules, which was demonstrated to promote neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth under myelin in vitro. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

An Integrated Miniature Bioprocessing for Personalized Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Expansion and Differentiation into Neural Stem Cells

Investigators explored the use of closed and miniature cell culture device for biomanufacturing patient specific neural stem cells (NSCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). They demonstrated that, with the assist of a thermoreversible hydrogel scaffold, the bioprocessing including iPSC expansion, iPSC differentiation into NSCs, the subsequent depletion of undifferentiated iPSCs from the NSCs, and concentrating and transporting the purified NSCs to the surgery room, could be integrated and completed within two closed 15 ml conical tubes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Motility of Glioblastoma Cells Is Driven by Netrin-1 Induced Gain of Stemness

Scientists investigated the effects of netrin-1 on glioblastoma pathogenesis and glioblastoma cell stemness. They found that Netrin-1 activated Notch signaling in glioblastoma cells resulting in subsequent gain of stemness and enhanced invasiveness of these cells. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Sulforaphane Suppresses the Growth of Glioblastoma Cells, Glioblastoma Stem Cell-Like Spheroids, and Tumor Xenografts through Multiple Cell Signaling Pathways

Researchers investigated the usefulness of sulforaphane (SFN) – a constituent of cruciferous vegetables with a multitargeted effect – as a therapeutic agent for glioblastoma (GBM). The inhibitory effects of SFN on established cell lines, early primary cultures, CD133-positive GBM stem cells (GSCs), GSC-derived spheroids, and GBM xenografts were evaluated using various methods. [J Neurosurg] Abstract

Therapeutic Value of Nerve Growth Factor in Promoting Neural Stem Cell Survival and Differentiation and Protecting against Neuronal Hearing Loss

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor that modulates survival and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Scientists investigated the function of NGF in promoting growth and neuronal differentiation of NSCs isolated from mouse cochlear tissue, as well as its protective properties against gentamicin ototoxicity. NSCs were isolated from the cochlea of mice and cultured in vitro. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Neurons Generated from Carcinoma Stem Cells Support Cancer Progression

Investigators showed that a fraction of cancer stem cells derived from patients with gastric carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma are capable of producing neurons that are involved in tumor neurogenesis and tumor growth. Cancer stem cell monoclone derived from a single cancer stem cell was able to generate neurons including sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons to take part in the nervous system in cancer tissues. [Signal Transduct Target Ther] Full Article

Controlling the Morphology and Outgrowth of Nerve and Neuroglial Cells: The Effect of Surface Topography

The authors review the existing body of literature on the use of artificial micro- and nano-topographical features to control neuronal and neuroglial cells’ morphology, outgrowth and neural network topology. The cell responses – from phenomenology to investigation of the underlying mechanisms – on the different topographies, including both deterministic and random ones, are summarized. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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

Orphan Disease Center Announces Program of Excellence for Motor Neuron Disease

The Orphan Disease Center in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has established a new Program of Excellence for Motor Neuron Disease. The new initiative will focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of motor neurons in the central nervous system and severe muscle weakness, with death usually occurring within five years of diagnosis. The program will pursue novel approaches, including gene therapy and genome editing to make inroads against ALS. [Penn Medicine] Press Release

Mount Sinai Establishes Eye and Vision Research Institute

The Mount Sinai Health System has announced the creation of the Mount Sinai/New York Eye and Ear (NYEE) Eye and Vision Research Institute. The Institute is the first of its kind in the New York City metropolitan region, and will expand Mount Sinai’s eye and vision research portfolio. Bringing together eye and vision researchers from The Mount Sinai Hospital and NYEE, the new Institute will foster collaborations between faculty at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and academic departments throughout the Mount Sinai Health System to maximize their collective efforts. [Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai] Press Release

Allele to Develop iPSC-Derived Cell Therapies with Focus on Diabetes and Spinal Cord Injury

Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals announced that it has officially entered into the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies after the development plan received strong support by the Scientific Advisory Board and was approved by the Board of Directors in December of 2016. [Allele Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

The Ontario Brain Institute Offers $50,000 to Jump-Start Your Neurotech Start-Up

OBI’s unique ONtrepreneurs Program offers up to 10 early-stage entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a start-up company and develop a technology applicable to brain disorders or brain health. [Ontario Brain Institute (CNW Group Ltd.)] Press Release

Brexit Vote Drives UK Academics to Think about Leaving

A survey of more than 1,000 UK-based university staff suggests that the country’s vote to leave the European Union could drive an academic exodus. [Nature News] Editorial

Cleveland Clinic Will Discipline Doctor Who Wrote Antivaccination Column

The Cleveland Clinic released an apology from a staff physician who published an antivaccination column on the news website Cleveland.com. The doctor, Daniel Neides, will be “appropriately disciplined,” the Ohio hospital added in its own statement, which noted that the family physician’s views do not reflect his institution’s. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 19^th International AEK Cancer Congress
March 1-3, 2017
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Technology/Neuroscience/Drug Discovery (University of California Davis)

NEW PhD Position(s) – Neurosciences/Neurobiology (EU-GliaPhD (Marie Curie Innovative Training Network))

Postdoctoral Research Position(s) – Alzheimer’s Disease (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School)

Tenure Track Faculty – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (University of Notre Dame)

Neuroscientist – Precision Neurotherapeutics (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Research Scholar – Neurodegenerative Diseases (Buck Insititute)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurobiology of Hunger and Other Homestatic Drivers (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School)

Research Associate Position – Neural Rehabilitation Experiments (Nanyang Technological University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Alzheimer’s Disease (University of Arkansas)

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