Neural Cell News Volume 11.33 | Aug 23 2017

TOP STORY

Neural Precursor-Derived Pleiotrophin Mediates Subventricular Zone Invasion by Glioma

Scientists demonstrated that neural precursor cell (NPC):glioma cell communication underpins the propensity of glioma to colonize the subventricular zone (SVZ) through secretion of chemoattractant signals toward which glioma cells home. Biochemical, proteomic, and functional analyses of SVZ NPC-secreted factors revealed the neurite outgrowth-promoting factor pleiotrophin, along with required binding partners SPARC/SPARCL1 and HSP90B, as key mediators of this chemoattractant effect. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Zika-Virus-Encoded NS2A Disrupts Mammalian Cortical Neurogenesis by Degrading Adherens Junction Proteins

By systematically introducing individual proteins encoded by Zika virus (ZIKV) into the embryonic mouse cortex, the authors showed that expression of ZIKV-NS2A, but not Dengue virus-NS2A, leads to reduced proliferation and premature differentiation of radial glial cells and aberrant positioning of newborn neurons. Mechanistically, in vitro mapping of protein-interactomes and biochemical analysis suggest interactions between ZIKA-NS2A and multiple adherens junction complex components. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Human Astrocyte Maturation Captured in 3D Cerebral Cortical Spheroids Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators present an approach for generating astrocyte lineage cells in a 3D cytoarchitecture using human cerebral cortical spheroids (hCSs) derived from pluripotent stem cells. They found that hCS-derived glia closely resemble primary human fetal astrocytes and that over time, in vitro, they transition from a predominantly fetal to an increasingly mature astrocyte state. [Neuron] Full Article | Press Release

Prolonged Human Neural Stem Cell Maturation Supports Recovery in Injured Rodent CNS

The authors assessed human H9 neural stem cells that were implanted into sites of spinal cord injury in immunodeficient rats over a period of 1.5 years. Notably, grafts showed evidence of continued maturation over the entire assessment period. Markers of neuronal maturity were first expressed three months after grafting. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

Antagonistic Activities of Sox2 and Brachyury Control the Fate Choice of Neuro-Mesodermal Progenitors

Scientists present a global analysis of neuro-mesodermal progenitors and their descending lineages performed on purified cells from embryonic day 8.5 wild-type and mutant embryos. They showed that Brachyury, cooperatively with WNT signaling, controls the progenitor state and the switch toward the mesodermal fate. [Dev Cell] Abstract

Combined CDK4/6 and mTOR Inhibition Is Synergistic against Glioblastoma via Multiple Mechanisms

Researchers investigated the efficacy of the combination of CDK4/6 inhibition and mTOR inhibition against glioblastoma. They showed that the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib suppresses the activity of downstream mediators of the mTOR pathway, leading to rebound mTOR activation that can be blocked by the mTOR inhibitor everolimus. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Peptide-Based Scaffolds Support Human Cortical Progenitor Graft Integration to Reduce Atrophy and Promote Functional Repair in a Model of Stroke

Investigators engineered hydrogel scaffolds to form “bio-bridges” within the necrotic lesion cavity, providing physical and trophic support to transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived cortical progenitors, as well as residual host neurons. Scaffolds were fabricated by the self-assembly of peptides for a laminin-derived epitope, thereby mimicking the brain’s major extracellular protein. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Niche-Derived Laminin-511 Promotes Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Survival and Differentiation through YAP

Using embryonic and dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain (mDA neurons), midbrain tissue from mice, and differentiated human neural stem cells, researchers investigated the mechanisms controlling the survival of mDA neurons. They found that the extracellular matrix protein laminin-511 promoted the survival and differentiation of mDA neurons. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Synergistic Toxicity of Polyglutamine-Expanded TBP in Glia and Neuronal Cells: Therapeutic Implications for SCA17

Scientists generated two conditional TATA-binding protein (TBP)-105Q knock-in mouse models that specifically express mutant TBP at the endogenous level in neurons or in astrocytes. They found that mutant TBP expression in neuronal cells or astrocytes alone only caused mild neurodegeneration, whereas severe neuronal toxicity requires the expression of mutant TBP in both neuronal and glial cells. [J Neurosci] Abstract

Cdk4 Regulates Adult Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in Response to Insulin-IRS2 Signals

Investigators revealed that insulin stimulates proliferation, but not survival or self-renewal, of adult neural stem cells. This effect was mediated by insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) and subsequent activation of the protein kinase B, leading to increased activity of the G1-phase cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and cell cycle progression. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells: Preclinical Efficacy and Safety in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Using the automated TreadScan system to track motor behavioral recovery, researchers found that oligodendrocyte progenitors significantly improved locomotor performance when administered directly into the cervical spinal cord one week after injury, and that this functional improvement was associated with reduced parenchymal cavitation and increased sparing of myelinated axons within the injury site. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Developmentally Regulated Signaling Pathways in Glioma Invasion

The authors summarize the role of developmentally regulated signaling pathways that have been found to facilitate glioma growth and invasion. They discuss how the microenvironment and treatment-induced perturbations of these highly interconnected signaling networks can trigger a shift in cellular phenotype and tumor subtype. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Full Article

Recent Findings on the Physiological Function of DJ-1: Beyond Parkinson’s Disease

Scientists critically analyze the experimental evidence, including some very recent findings, supporting the purported neuroprotective role of DJ-1 through different mechanisms linked to oxidative stress handling, as well as the relevance of these processes in the context of Parkinson’s disease. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract

3D Brain Organoids Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells: Promising Experimental Models for Brain Development and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Researchers describe the history and current state of 3D brain organoid differentiation strategies, a survey of applications of organoids towards studies of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and the challenges associated with their use as in vitro models of neurological disorders. [J Biomed Sci] Full Article

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

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Announces Recipients of the 2017 Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation announced that 17 researchers have been selected to receive the prestigious Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in MS research. The award, which is given in two categories – Bridging Award for Physician-Scientists and the Pilot Innovator Award – is awarded to 17 recipients, totaling almost $4 million in grants over a five-year period. [The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation] Press Release

$3.3 Million Grant Goes to Segerstrom to Study Brain Health

A team of researchers led by Professor Suzanne Segerstrom has received a $3.3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to continue its study of healthy aging. [University of Kentucky] Press Release

CHLA Researcher Awarded $1.9 Million by NIH to Study Novel Approach to Battling Neuroblastoma

Muller Fabbri, MD, PhD, of the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), has been awarded $1.9 million by the National Cancer Institute of the NIH to further his research on neuroblastoma – the third most common type of childhood cancer. [Children’s Hospital Los Angeles] Press Release

Nortis Awarded $688K for NIH Phase II SBIR Fast Track Grant in Human Blood Brain Barrier Model

Nortis announced the awarding of a $688K National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The award will provide funding for the third year of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fast-track grant under award number R44NS095585 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. [Nortis] Press Release

Kessler Foundation Awarded Major Wallerstein Foundation Grant for Stroke Research

Kessler Foundation was awarded a $250,000 grant by the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement. The three-year grant will advance the Foundation’s stroke rehabilitation research in the diagnosis and treatment of spatial neglect, a hidden disability that complicates recovery after right brain stroke. [Kessler Foundation] Press Release

Curtana Pharmaceuticals Successfully Completes Pre-IND Submission for CT-179 for the Treatment of Malignant Gliomas

Curtana Pharmaceuticals announced that it has completed a pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting with the FDA. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed clinical development program for treating newly diagnosed adult glioblastoma patients with Curtana’s lead product candidate, CT-179, including the Phase I clinical study design. [Curtana Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

A Bold Open-Access Push in Germany Could Change the Future of Academic Publishing

Over the past two years, more than 150 German libraries, universities, and research institutes have formed a united front trying to force academic publishers into a new way of doing business. Instead of buying subscriptions to specific journals, consortium members want to pay publishers an annual lump sum that covers publication costs of all papers whose first authors are at German institutions. Those papers would be freely available around the world; meanwhile, German institutions would receive access to all the publishers’ online content. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Leaked Documents Expose Long-Standing Gender Tensions at Salk Institute

Senior female faculty at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies raise more than twice as much in National Institutes of Health funding for scientists working in their labs as their male counterparts, according to a 2016 internal report on “faculty issues” requested by leaders of the San Diego, California institution. Yet Salk leaders favored male scientists by granting them greater access to internal funds and other resources, the report implies, echoing gender discrimination lawsuits filed last month against the research center. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Big Questions in Neuroscience (SfN Satellite Symposium)
November 9-10, 2017
San Diego, California, United States

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

NEW Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

NEW Lead Bioengineer – Parkinson’s Disease Research (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

NEW Research Associate – Parkinson’s Disease Research (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

Research Associate – Neuroscience (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Position – Genetic and Viral Causes of Microencephaly (Duke University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Glioblastoma Multiforme (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate Positions – Neuroscience (State University of New York)

Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions and Principal Investigator – Brain Tumors (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Glial Cells (University of California, Davis)

Faculty Scientists – Neuroscience (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Regeneration (Johns Hopkins University)

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

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience (Max Planck Society)

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

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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