Neural Cell News Volume 11.29 | Jul 26 2017

TOP STORY

Brain Cells Found to Control Aging

Scientists found that stem cells in the brain’s hypothalamus govern how fast aging occurs in the body. The finding, made in mice, could lead to new strategies for warding off age-related diseases and extending lifespan. [Press release from Albert Einstein College of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract | Editorial 1 | Editorial 2

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Stimulation of Functional Neuronal Regeneration from Müller Glia in Adult Mice

Researchers showed that Müller glia (MG)-specific overexpression of Ascl1, together with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enables adult mice to generate neurons from MG after retinal injury. The MG-derived neurons expressed markers of inner retinal neurons, synapsed with host retinal neurons, and responded to light. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

Heterogeneity of Neuroblastoma Cell Identity Defined by Transcriptional Circuitries

To define core regulatory circuitries controlling the gene expression program of neuroblastoma, scientists established and analyzed the neuroblastoma super-enhancer landscape. They discovered three types of identity in neuroblastoma cell lines. [Nat Genet] Abstract

Human iPSC Glial Mouse Chimeras Reveal Glial Contributions to Schizophrenia

The authors investigated whether intrinsic glial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SCZ). They established humanized glial chimeric mice using glial progenitor cells produced from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with childhood-onset SCZ. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

High-Content Screening in hPSC-Neural Progenitors Identifies Drug Candidates that Inhibit Zika Virus Infection in Fetal-Like Organoids and Adult Brain

Investigators performed a high-content chemical screen using human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cortical neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and found that hippeastrine hydrobromide and amodiaquine dihydrochloride dihydrate can inhibit Zika virus infection in hNPCs. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Persistent Expression of VCAM1 in Radial Glial Cells Is Required for the Embryonic Origin of Postnatal Neural Stem Cells

The authors showed that VCAM1, a transmembrane protein previously found in quiescent adult neural stem cells (NSCs), is expressed by a subpopulation of embryonic radial glial cells (RGCs), in a temporal and region-specific manner. Loss of VCAM1 reduced the number of active embryonic RGCs by stimulating their premature neuronal differentiation while preventing quiescence in the slowly dividing RGCs. [Neuron] Full Article

An Intrinsic Mechanism Controls Reactivation of Neural Stem Cells by Spindle Matrix Proteins

Scientists showed that the spindle matrix complex containing Chromator (Chro) functions as a key intrinsic regulator of neural stem cell (NSC) reactivation downstream of extrinsic insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling. Chro also prevented NSCs from re-entering quiescence at later stages. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Rho-Associated Kinase Is a Therapeutic Target in Neuroblastoma

Researchers showed that neuroblastoma harbors frequent mutations of genes controlling the Rac/Rho signaling cascade important for proper migration and differentiation of neural crest cells during neuritogenesis. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ROCK1 and 2, key molecules in Rho signaling, resulted in neuroblastoma cell differentiation and inhibition of neuroblastoma cell growth, migration, and invasion. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Lunatic Fringe-Mediated Notch Signaling Regulates Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cell Maintenance

Investigators report that Lunatic fringe (Lfng), a key modifier of the Notch receptor, is selectively expressed in neural stem cells (NSCs), and that Lfng in NSCs along with Notch ligands Delta1 and Jagged1 expressed by their progeny influence NSC recruitment, cell cycle duration and terminal fate. [eLife] Full Article

Altered Neurite Morphology and Cholinergic Function of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons from a Patient with Kleefstra Syndrome and Autism

The authors established an in vitro Kleefstra syndrome (KS) disease model using the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology. Patient specific hiPSCs generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the KS-autism spectrum disorder patient were differentiated into post-mitotic cortical neurons. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article

Mechanically Stable Fibrin Scaffolds Promote Viability and Induce Neurite Outgrowth in Neural Aggregates Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Researchers showed that genipin enhances neuronal differentiation of neural progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in 2D culture and genipin concentration influences the morphological and mechanical properties of 3D fibrin scaffolds. These mechanically stable genipin-crosslinked fibrin scaffolds supported hiPSC-derived neural aggregates and induced neurite outgrowth while remaining intact for two weeks as opposed to five days for unmodified fibrin scaffolds. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Relevance of Contact-Independent Cell-to-Cell Transfer of TDP-43 and SOD1 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The authors describe the properties of TDP-43 and SOD1 and look at the evidence for their respective abilities to participate in cell-to-cell transfer via conditioned medium, and discuss how variations in the nature of cell-to-cell transfer suggests that a number of different mechanisms are involved in the spreading of pathology in ALS. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Full Article

Mimicking Parkinson’s Disease in a Dish: Merits and Pitfalls of the Most Commonly Used Dopaminergic In Vitro Models

Scientists summarize the merits and limitations of the most widely used dopaminergic in vitro models in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research, which may help the PD researcher to choose the most appropriate model for studies directed at the elucidation of the early-stage molecular events underlying PD onset and progression. [Neuromolecular Med] Abstract

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Phase III Clinical Trial Targeting Lou Gehrig’s Disease Gets $15.9 Million Investment from Stem Cell Agency

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a particularly nasty, almost always fatal neurological condition that has no effective treatment and no cure. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is investing $15.9 million in a therapy to try and change that. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] Press Release

Novocure^™ Announces a Phase Ib Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety of Marizomib and Temozolomide in Combination with Optune^® as Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Glioblastoma

Novocure announced a new arm for a Phase Ib study to evaluate the safety of marizomib and temozolomide in combination with Optune, Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields delivery system, as adjuvant treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma following radiation therapy with concurrent temozolomide. The trial is the first to study Optune in combination with an investigational drug. [Novocure] Press Release

Moleculin’s New Drug for the Treatment of Glioblastoma Nears Clinical Trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. announced it has agreed to provide support to help accelerate the start of a physician-sponsored Investigational New Drug application to study the company’s drug candidate WP1066 for the treatment of adult glioblastoma. [Moleculin Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Rosalind Franklin University Receives NIH Funding for Breakthrough Research on Neurological Repair: $2.8 Million Grant Supports Collaboration with German Research Institute

A $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help researchers at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science study how to replace neurons lost through stroke, traumatic brain and spinal injury and brain diseases including Alzheimer’s. [Rosalind Franklin University] Press Release

Four Young Pediatric Cancer Research Fellows Earn $1 Million in Awards

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named four outstanding young scientists as recipients of the prestigious Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award, committing nearly $1 million to help address a critical shortage of funding for pediatric cancer research. [Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation] Press Release

Lorenz Studer Awarded the 2017 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize

Lorenz P. Studer, MD, was announced as the winner of the 2017 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize by the Gladstone Institutes. Studer is the director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and a member of the Developmental Biology Program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. [Gladstone Institutes] Press Release

Ding, Ding, Ding! CRISPR Patent Fight Enters Next Round

The University of California has fired another legal salvo in the prolonged patent battle over CRISPR, the revolutionary gene-editing technology that has spawned a billion dollar industry. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Budding UK Innovation Agency Gains Cash — and Clout

UK scientists fearful for their research funds ahead of Brexit were cheered when the government announced it would plough an extra £4.7 billion into research and development by 2020–21. But the biggest winner from the largely industry-focused cash may be a government innovation agency that is rapidly gaining clout. [Nature News] Editorial

Senate Spending Panel Would Squeeze Science Agencies but Exceed Trump Request

A Senate spending panel voted to reduce funding in 2018 below current levels for several science agencies under its jurisdiction. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Salk Institute Hit with Discrimination Lawsuit by Third Female Scientist

Following two gender discrimination lawsuits filed last week, a third senior female professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies has similarly sued the storied independent institute in San Diego, California. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Expanding Possibilities: Science Conquering Parkinson’s
October 12-14, 2017
Cairns, Australia

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Neuroscience (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Developmental Neuroscience (University of North Carolina School of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral and Scientist Positions – CNS (Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Synthetic Biology/Neurobiology (University of Edinburgh)

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Position – Neural Regeneration and Functional Tissue Engineering (Pennsylvania State University)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience (Max Planck Society)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Development and Function of Neural Circuits (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Position – Developmental Neurobiology (State University of New York)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurobiology (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience (State University of New York)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Neural Stem Cell Biology (Institute for Neuroscience of Montpellier)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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