Neural Cell News Volume 11.05 | Feb 8 2017

TOP STORY

A Molecular Census of Arcuate Hypothalamus and Median Eminence Cell Types

To catalog cell types of the hypothalamic arcuate–median eminence complex (Arc-ME) in an unbiased way, the authors profiled gene expression in 20,921 individual cells in and around the adult mouse Arc-ME using Drop-seq. They identified 50 transcriptionally distinct Arc-ME cell populations, including a rare tanycyte population at the Arc-ME diffusion barrier, a new leptin-sensing neuron population, multiple agouti-related peptide and pro-opiomelanocortin subtypes, and an orexigenic somatostatin neuron population. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Identification of Diverse Astrocyte Populations and Their Malignant Analogs

Using an intersectional fluorescence-activated cell sorting–based strategy, researchers identified five distinct astrocyte subpopulations present across three brain regions that show extensive molecular diversity. Application of this molecular insight toward function revealed that these populations differentially support synaptogenesis between neurons. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

Adult-Born Neurons Modify Excitatory Synaptic Transmission to Existing Neurons

The authors investigated how manipulating neurogenesis in adult mice alters excitatory synaptic transmission to mature dentate neurons. Enhancing neurogenesis by conditional deletion of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax in stem cells reduced excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and spine density in mature neurons, whereas genetic ablation of neurogenesis increased EPSCs in mature neurons. [eLife] Full Article | Press Release

KLF6 Depletion Promotes NF-κB Signaling in Glioblastoma

Scientists report a new mechanism of NF-κB activation in glioblastoma through depletion of the KLF6 tumor suppressor. They showed that KLF6 transactivates multiple genes negatively controlling the NF-κB pathway and consequently reduces NF-κB nuclear localization and downregulates NF-κB targets. [Oncogene] Full Article

Quantitative Map of Proteome Dynamics during Neuronal Differentiation

To systematically profile proteome dynamics throughout neuronal differentiation, researchers took cultured rat hippocampal neurons at different developmental stages and monitored changes in protein abundance using a combination of stable isotope labeling and high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Covalent Growth Factor Tethering to Direct Neural Stem Cell Differentiation and Self-Organization

Investigators developed a new method for the site-specific covalent immobilization of azide-tagged growth factors and investigated its utility in a model system for guiding neural stem cell behavior. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Intranasal Delivery of a Novel Amnion Cell Secretome Prevents Neuronal Damage and Preserves Function in a Mouse Multiple Sclerosis Model

ST266, the biological secretome of amnion-derived multipotent progenitor cells, contains multiple anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Reseachers showed that intranasally administered ST266 accumulated in rodent eyes and optic nerves, attenuated visual dysfunction, and prevented retinal ganglion cell loss in experimental optic neuritis, with reduced inflammation and demyelination. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Faithful SGCE Imprinting in iPSC-Derived Cortical Neurons: An Endogenous Cellular Model of Myoclonus-Dystonia

Scientists generated induced pluripotent stem cel (iPSC)-derived cortical neurons from myoclonus-dystonia patients with mutations in the maternally imprinted ε-sarcoglycan (SGCE) gene and analyzed properties such as imprinting, mRNA and protein expression. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Small G Protein Rac GTPases Regulate the Maintenance of Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

To investigate whether Rac proteins can serve as therapeutic targets for glioblastoma, especially for glioblastoma stem cells or stemloids, the authors examined the potential roles of Rac1, Rac2 and Rac3 on the properties of tumorspheres derived from glioblastoma cell lines. They showed that Rac proteins promote the STAT3 and ERK activation and enhance cell proliferation and colony formation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Interference of Notch1 Target Hes1 Affects Cell Growth, Differentiation and Invasiveness of Glioblastoma Stem Cells through Modulation of Multiple Oncogenic Targets

Scientists assessed the effects of Hes1-targeted shRNA, a Notch1 gene target, specifically on glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells (CSC) refractory to γ-secretase inhibitor-X. Depletion of Hes1 protein induced major changes in cell morphology, cell growth rate and in the invasive ability of shHes1-CSC in response to growth factor EGF. shHes1-CSC showed a decrease of the stemness marker Nestin concurrently to a marked increase of neuronal marker MAP2 compared to pLKO.1-CSC. [Oncotarget] Full Article

A Three-Dimensional Neural Spheroid Model for Capillary-Like Network Formation

Investigators aimed to establish a spheroid model to study the formation of capillary-like networks in a three-dimensional environment that incorporates both neuronal and glial cell types, and does not require exogenous vasculogenic growth factors. [J Neurosci Methods] Abstract | Press Release

Overcoming Therapeutic Resistance in Glioblastoma: The Way Forward

The authors discuss how recent genomic studies have unveiled the complexity of tumor heterogeneity in glioblastoma and provide new insights into the genomic landscape of tumor cells that survive and initiate tumor recurrence. They explain how resistant cells also co-opt developmental pathways and display stem-like properties; hence they propose to name them recurrence-initiating stem-like cancer cells. [J Clin Invest] Abstract

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MeiraGTx Awarded Target ALS Grant for Its NMD-Based Therapy for ALS

MeiraGTx announced that it has been awarded a grant from Target ALS. The grant will fund testing of a novel gene therapy approach to treat ALS that targets TDP-43, a protein that is misregulated in over 95% of all ALS patients. [MeiraGTx] Press Release

Lysogene Receives Orphan Drug Designation from FDA for LYS-GM101 for Treatment of GM1 Gangliosidosis

Lysogene announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to LYSGM101, the company’s gene therapy drug candidate for treatment of GM1 Gangliosidosis. [Lysogene] Press Release

Prize4Life Announces $1 Million ALS Treatment Prize Winner

Prize4Life announced the winner of its $1 million Avi Kremer Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment Prize. The winners are the team of Drs. Martine Barkats and Maria-Grazia Biferi, from the Institute of Myology INSERM UMPC. [Prize4life, Inc.] Press Release

‘Riskiest Ideas’ Win $50 Million from Chan Zuckerberg Biohub

The biomedical research initiative created by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, physician Priscilla Chan, has awarded its first grants to scientists, on topics ranging from the genomics of obscure microbes to a memory-retrieval device. [Nature News] Editorial

The Most Powerful Man in UK Science on His New Role

Mark Walport is preparing to take on the most powerful job in UK science. From 2018, he will be the first head of a new central funding organization called UK Research and Innovation, which will oversee more than £6 billion of research funding per year. [Nature News] Editorial

Updated: USDA Responds to Outcry over Removal of Animal Welfare Documents, Lawsuit Threats

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a statement regarding the removal of animal welfare reports from its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW hPSC Training Course: Reprogramming, Maintenance and Reversion to Naïve-Like State
April 24-26, 2017
Vancouver, Canada

NEW Reversion of Primed hPSCs to Naive-Like State Training Course
April 25-26, 2017
Vancouver, Canada

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NEW Assistant Professor – Neuroscience (Pennsylvania State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Translational Neuroscience and Neuroregeneration (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

Research Scientist – Neurobiology of the Visual System (National Eye Institute – National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Glioma Research (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

Research Associate – Parkinson’s Disease (University of Bristol)

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

PhD Position(s) – Neurosciences/Neurobiology (EU-GliaPhD)

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

Neuroscientist – Precision Neurotherapeutics (University of California Davis)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

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