Neural Cell News Volume 11.18 | May 10 2017

TOP STORY

How Neurons and Glia Cells Are Created in the Developing Brain

Scientists found that a gene called Lgl1 controls the production of certain neurons in the cortex of mouse embryos, and plays a role in the production of other types of neurons and glia after birth. [Press release from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria discussing online prepublication in Neuron] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Lipocalin-2 Regulates Adult Neurogenesis and Contextual Discriminative Behaviors

The authors showed that the deletion of the iron trafficking protein lipocalin-2 (LCN2) induces deficits in neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation and commitment, with impact on the hippocampal-dependent contextual fear discriminative task. Mice deficient in LCN2 presented an increase in the NSCs population, as a consequence of a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest induced by increased endogenous oxidative stress. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

Developmental Activities of the Complement Pathway in Migrating Neurons

The role of immune molecules in the developing brain has not been well explored. The complement pathway converges to cleave C3. Researchers showed that key proteins in the lectin arm of this pathway, MASP1, MASP2 and C3, are expressed in the developing cortex and that neuronal migration is impaired in knockout and knockdown mice. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Variations in Brain Defects Result from Cellular Mosaicism in the Activation of Heat Shock Signaling

Investigators report that exposure of mouse and human embryonic brain tissues to equal doses of harmful chemicals, such as ethanol, activated the primary stress response transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) in a highly variable and stochastic manner. While Hsf1 was essential for protecting the embryonic brain from environmental stress, excessive activation impaired critical developmental events such as neuronal migration. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Distinct Translaminar Glutamatergic Circuits to GABAergic Interneurons in the Neonatal Auditory Cortex

Researchers showed, by laser-scanning photostimulation, that layer four and layer five GABAergic interneurons in the auditory cortex in neonatal mice received extensive translaminar glutamatergic input via NMDAR-only synapses. Extensive translaminar AMPAR-mediated input developed during the second postnatal week, whereas NMDAR-only presynaptic connections decreased. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Increasing Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Dose Alters Oligodendroglial and Neuronal Differentiation after Spinal Cord Injury

The authors report that multipotent human central nervous system-derived neural stem cells transplanted at doses ranging from 10,000 to 500,000 cells differentiated predominantly into the oligodendroglial lineage. While the number of engrafted cells increased linearly in relationship to increasing dose, the proportion of oligodendrocytic cells declined. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Mediates Valproic Acid-Induced Neuronal Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells through Epigenetic Modifications

Scientists investigated if and how mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is involved in the neuronal differentiation of valproic acid (VPA)-induced neural stem cells (NSCs). Their data demonstrated that mTOR activation not only promoted but also was necessary for the neuronal differentiation of NSCs induced by VPA. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Human Neural Stem Cell Biodistribution and Predicted Tumor Coverage by a Diffusible Therapeutic in a Mouse Glioma Model

Investigators developed techniques by which conventional serial-sectioned formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brains could be analyzed in their entirety across multiple test animals. They considered a conventional human glioblastoma model: U251 glioma cells orthotopically engrafted in immunodeficient mice receiving intracerebral or intravenous administrations of neural stem cells (NSCs) expressing a diffusible enzyme to locally catalyze chemotherapeutic formation. The most efficient NSC homing was seen with smaller NSC doses. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Zebrafish GDNF and Its Co-Receptor GFRα1 Activate the Human RET Receptor and Promote the Survival of Dopaminergic Neurons In Vitro

Researchers expressed and purified Danio rerio receptor tyrosine kinase (RET), and its binding partners glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1) and GDNF, and Drosophila melanogaster RET and two isoforms of co-receptor GDNF receptor-like. Their results reported high-level insect cell expression of post-translationally modified and dimerized zebrafish RET and its binding partners. [PLoS One] Full Article

Diverse Roles for the Ror-family Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Neurons and Glial Cells during Development and Repair of the Nervous System

Scientists overviewed recent advances in the understanding of the roles of the Ror-family receptor tyrosine kinases in the development and repair of the nervous system and discussed their potential for therapeutic targets to neurodegenerative diseases. [Dev Dyn] Abstract

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

DelMar Presents New Mechanism of Action Data for Its Lead Agent VAL-083 in Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

DelMar Pharmaceuticals announced a new mechanism of action data for its anti-cancer product candidate, VAL-083, a “first-in-class” small-molecule DNA-targeting agent in temozolomide-resistant GBM. [Press release from DelMar Pharmaceuticals discussing research presented at the 5^th Quadrennial Meeting of the World Federation of Neuro-Oncology Societies (WFNOS), Zurich] Press Release

Luspatercept Phase II Data Presented

Acceleron Pharma Inc. and Celgene Corporation announced preliminary Phase II results from the ongoing three-month base and long-term extension studies with investigational drug luspatercept in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. [Press release from Acceleron Pharma Inc. discussing research presented at the 14^th International Symposium on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Valencia] Press Release

Taube Philanthropies Gives $3 Million to Fund Huntington’s Disease Research

Scientists at Stanford Medicine and the Gladstone Institutes have received a $3 million gift from Taube Philanthropies to fund Huntington’s disease research. The donation will support the first efforts to use gene editing and stem cell therapies to ameliorate Huntington’s disease, a progressive, inherited neurodegenerative disease that lacks approved drugs to slow its progress and for which there is no cure. [Stanford Medicine] Press Release

Six New York City Scientists Win Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance announced the six winners of the fourth annual Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research, awarded annually to promising early career, New York City area scientists. Recipients receive $200,000 in funding per year for up to three years, for a total of $600,000, to support explorative, high-risk/high-reward cancer research. [Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance] Press Release

European Commission Approves the Only Immunotherapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Bringing Hope to Thousands of Children Affected by a Rare and Devastating Form of Cancer

EUSA Pharma announced that the European Commission has approved the antibody ch14.18/CHO, dinutuximab beta, for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma in patients aged 12 months and above. [EUSA Pharma Ltd.] Press Release

The Secret War against Counterfeit Science

China is famous for knock-off DVDs, Louis Vuitton bags and Rolex watches. But counterfeit reagents aren’t on sale in busy public markets. They are sold through sophisticated websites, mixed in with legitimate supplies, and sourced and sold using a network of unwitting partners. [Nature News] Editorial

Science Publishers Try New Tack to Combat Unauthorized Paper Sharing

The unauthorized sharing of copyrighted research papers is on the rise, say analysts who track the publishing industry. Faced with this problem, science publishers seem to be changing tack in their approach to researchers who breach copyright. [Nature News] Editorial

Biotech Execs, Academic Leaders Make Case for NIH Funding at White House Meeting

Could the Trump administration be changing its mind about slashing funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)? Scientific leaders were optimistic after meeting at the White House with several biotech executives to discuss the “ecosystem” in which federally funded basic research leads to discoveries that companies turn into treatments. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Inhibition in the CNS
June 25-30, 2017
Les Diablerets, Switzerland

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

NEW Research Fellow – Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders (Duke-NUS Medical School)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Cell Biology (Medical Research Council)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Biology (KU Leuven)

Career Position – Neural Aging (University of Innsbruck)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neuroscience and Imaging (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Director – BrainHub (Carnegie Mellon University)

Postdoctoral Position(s) – Visual Neuroscience (Yale University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Spinal Cord Injury Repair (Burke Medical Research Institute Cornell)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Experienced Scientist – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (University of Michigan)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Canada Research Chair in Mental Health (University of Alberta)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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

Neuroscientist – Precision Neurotherapeutics (University of California Davis)

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