Neural Cell News Volume 11.07 | Feb 22 2017

TOP STORY

Vitamin B₃ Modulates Mitochondrial Vulnerability and Prevents Glaucoma in Aged Mice

Studying glaucoma-prone mice, the authors showed that mitochondrial abnormalities are an early driver of neuronal dysfunction, occurring before detectable degeneration. Retinal levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide decrease with age and render aging neurons vulnerable to disease-related insults. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Time-Specific Effects of Spindle Positioning on Embryonic Progenitor Pool Composition and Adult Neural Stem Cell Seeding

Scientists showed that the cleavage plane orientation in murine embryonic radial glia cells (RGCs) regulates the number of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) in the lateral ganglionic eminence. Randomizing spindle orientation in RGCs by overexpression of Insc or a dominant-negative form of Lgn reduces the frequency of self-renewing asymmetric divisions while favoring symmetric divisions generating two SNPs. These changes during embryonic development result in reduced seeding of aNSCs. [Neuron] Full Article

ID2 Promotes Survival of Glioblastoma Cells during Metabolic Stress by Regulating Mitochondrial Function

Researchers found that inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (ID2) expression levels significantly correlate with the ability of glioblastoma-derived cell lines to survive glucose deprivation. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Differential Responses of Human Fetal Brain Neural Stem Cells to Zika Virus Infection

Investigators used an Asian-lineage Zika virus strain, isolated from the 2015 Mexican outbreak (Mex1-7), to infect primary human neural stem cells (hNSCs) originally derived from three individual fetal brains. All three strains of hNSCs exhibited similar rates of Mex1-7 infection and reduced proliferation. Mex1-7 decreased neuronal differentiation in only two of the three stem cell strains. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Astrocytic Calcium Waves Signal Brain Injury to Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells

Using a newly established in vitro system researchers showed that calcium waves induced in an astrocytic monolayer spread to neural stem and progenitor cells and increase their self-renewal as well as migratory behavior. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

HiPSC-Derived Retinal Ganglion Cells Grow Dendritic Arbors and Functional Axons on a Tissue-Engineered Scaffold

The authors detail the generation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from the neural retina and their seeding on a biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold to create an engineered RGC-scaffold biomaterial. They explored the dendritic arbor, branching point, functional axon and action potential of the biomaterial. The cell-scaffold was transplanted into the intraocular environment of rabbits and rhesus monkeys. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Generation of Storable Retinal Organoids and Retinal Pigmented Epithelium from Adherent Human iPS Cells in Xeno-Free and Feeder-Free Conditions

Researchers have developed a two-step xeno-free/feeder-free culture system to efficiently differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into retinal cells. This method, relies only on adherent hiPSCs cultured in chemically defined media, bypassing embryoid body formation. In less than one month, adherent hiPSCs were able to generate self-forming neuroretinal-like structures containing retinal progenitor cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Overexpression of miR-29a Reduces the Oncogenic Properties of Glioblastoma Stem Cells by Downregulating Quaking Gene Isoform 6

Altered microRNA (miR) expression in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) may lead to glioblastoma progression, the authors assessed the effects of miR-29a expression on the oncogenic behavior of GSCs. MiR-29a expression was lower in GSCs than non-GSCs, and overexpression of miR-29a in GSCs inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted apoptosis. [Oncotarget] Full Article

EphB4 Regulates Self-Renewal, Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation of Human Embryonic Neural Stem Cells In Vitro

Investigators examined whether EphB4 is required for proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells in vitro. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

1,2:5,6-Dianhydrogalactitol Inhibits Human Glioma Cell Growth In Vivo and In Vitro by Arresting the Cell Cycle at G₂/M Phase

Scientists investigated the inhibitory effects of 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol on human glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo and uncovered the underlying molecular mechanisms. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

MicroRNA-200a Silencing Protects Neural Stem Cells against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

The authors investigated whether miR-200a, a vital regulator in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis, also has a role in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injured neural stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Applications of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technologies in Spinal Cord Injury

The beneficial effect of iPSC-derived neural precursor cell transplantation has been reported from the authors’ group and others working in rodent and non-human primate models. These promising results facilitate the application of iPSCs for clinical applications in spinal cord injury patients. However, iPSCs also have issues, such as genetic/epigenetic abnormalities and tumorigenesis due to the artificial induction method, that must be addressed prior to clinical use. [J Neurochem] Abstract

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

BrainStorm Seeking Approval to Distribute NurOwn^® in Canada

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. has signed an agreement with CCRM to support the market authorization request for NurOwn^®. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

City of Hope to Manufacture NurOwn^® for Brainstorm’s Phase III ALS Clinical Trial

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that it plans to contract with City of Hope’s Center for Biomedicine and Genetics to produce clinical supplies of NurOwn^® adult stem cells for the company’s planned randomized, double-blind, multi-dose Phase III clinical study in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Celgene Announces Positive Results from Phase III SUNBEAM Trial of Oral Ozanimod in Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Celgene Corporation announced that its Phase III SUNBEAM trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of ozanimod, an investigational oral, selective S1P 1 and 5 receptor modulator, in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, met the primary endpoint in reducing annualized relapse rate, compared to weekly interferon β-1a (Avonex^®). [Celgene Corporation] Press Release

Apitope Announces Positive ATX-MS-1467 Phase IIa Data in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Apitope announced positive results from the Phase IIa clinical study of its lead product candidate, ATX-MS-1467, for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. [Apitope] Press Release

Firing of Veteran NIH Scientist Prompts Protests over Publication Ban

At least two dozen junior and senior researchers are stuck in scientific limbo after being barred from publishing data collected over a 25-year period at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab. The unusual ban follows the firing last summer of veteran neurologist Allen Braun by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for what many scientists have told Science are relatively minor, if widespread, violations of his lab’s experimental protocol. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why British Universities Are Unlikely to Accept Invitation to Set up Campuses in France

A consortium of academic institutes near Paris is hoping to lure British universities to create research campuses in France, dangling as bait the possibility of access to European Union research funds after Brexit. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW AACR Annual Meeting 2017
April 1-5, 2017
Washington D.C., United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Studies – In Vitro Neural Systems (Karolinska Institute)

NEW PhD Student – Developmental Neuroscience (Karolinska Institute)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Neuroscience (Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute)

Scientist – Retina and CNS Degenerative Disease (University Health Network)

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 Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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)

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.