Neural Cell News Volume 11.39 | Oct 4 2017

TOP STORY

Temporal Control of Mammalian Cortical Neurogenesis by m⁶A Methylation

The authors showed that N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) depletion by Mettl14 knockout in embryonic mouse brains prolongs the cell cycle of radial glia cells and extends cortical neurogenesis into postnatal stages. m⁶A depletion by Mettl14 knockdown also lead to a prolonged cell cycle and maintenance of radial glia cells. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Scalable Production of iPSC-Derived Human Neurons to Identify Tau-Lowering Compounds by High-Content Screening

Researchers engineered an isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line that harbors an inducible neurogenin 2 transgene, a transcription factor that rapidly converts iPSCs to neurons, integrated at the AAVS1 locus. Using a simplified two-step protocol, they differentiated these iPSCs into cortical glutamatergic neurons with minimal well-to-well variability. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Increased Neuronal Differentiation of Neural Progenitor Cells Derived from Phosphovimentin-Deficient Mice

Scientists investigated morphology, proliferative capacity, and motility of VIM^SA/SA astrocytes, and their effect on the differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells. VIM^SA/SA astrocytes expressed less vimentin and more GFAP, but showed a well-developed intermediate filament network, exhibited normal cell morphology, proliferation, and motility in an in vitro wound closing assay. [Mol Neurobiol] Full Article

TLX Is an Intrinsic Regulator of the Negative Effects of IL-1β on Proliferating Hippocampal Neural Progenitor Cells

Investigators assessed the mechanism that underlies IL-1β–induced changes in TLX expression and determined the protective capacity of TLX to mitigate the effects of IL-1β on embryonic rat hippocampal neurosphere expansion. They demonstrated that IL-1β activated the NF-κB pathway in proliferating neural progenitor cells and that this activation was responsible for IL-1β–induced changes in TLX expression. [FASEB J] Abstract

Crosstalk between Glial and Glioblastoma Cells Triggers the “Go-or-Grow” Phenotype of Tumor Cells

Scientists investigated how glioblastoma (GBM) cells modulate resident glial cells, particularly their paracrine activity, and how this modulation can influence back on the malignant phenotype of GBM cells. Conditioned media (CM) derived from unprimed glial cells favored an increase in GBM cell migration capacity, while CM from primed glial cells promoted cells viability. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

The Neuroprotective Role of Rosiglitazone in Advanced Glycation End Product Treated Human Neural Stem Cells Is PPARgamma-Dependent

Researchers investigated the hypothesis that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist (rosiglitazone) would abrogate advanced glycation end product (AGE)-mediated neurotoxic effects on human neural stem cells (hNSCs), by which AGEs may play a role in diabetic-related neuronal impairment. They showed that rosiglitazone treatment increases cell viability of hNSCs via downregulation of caspase 3 activity. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

The Kinesin Eg5 Inhibitor K858 Induces Apoptosis and Reverses the Malignant Invasive Phenotype in Human Glioblastoma Cells

Since glioblastoma cells usually express high levels of kinesin Eg5, investigators tested the effect of K858 on two human glioblastoma cell lines and found that K858 inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis, reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibited migration in both cell lines. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

Effects of Aspirin and Clopidogrel on Neural Stem Cells

Scientists investigated the effects of aspirin and clopidogrel on neural stem cells (NSCs). Various viability tests showed that clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate did not affect the viability and proliferation of NSCs, whereas aspirin decreased them even at low concentrations which are clinically relevant. [Cell Biol Toxicol] Abstract

Elovanoids Are a Novel Class of Homeostatic Lipid Mediators that Protect Neural Cell Integrity upon Injury

Researchers report the characterization of a novel class of lipid mediators termed elovanoids (ELVs), which are dihydroxylated derivatives of 32:6n3 and 34:6n3, respectively. They report that ELV-mediated protection was induced in neuronal cultures undergoing either oxygen/glucose deprivation or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor–mediated excitotoxicity, as well as in experimental ischemic stroke. [Sci Adv] Full Article

A Systemic View of Alzheimer Disease — Insights from Amyloid-β Metabolism beyond the Brain

The authors review emerging findings of associations between systemic abnormalities and amyloid-β (Aβ) metabolism, and describe how these associations might interact with or reflect on the central pathways of Aβ production and clearance. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract

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

New Project Co-Funded with Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation announced they will jointly support a new project that could result in a potential therapeutic to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. [The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation] Press Release

UC Davis Receives $8 Million to Expand Access to Stem Cell Clinical Trials

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded a nearly $8 million grant to University of California (UC), Davis, stem cell researchers to launch a special clinical trials program in Sacramento to accelerate the therapeutic development and delivery of stem cell therapies in human patients. [University of California, Davis] Press Release

UMMS Receives Largest Alumni Donation in School History to Support ALS, Neuroscience Research

A grateful alumna and her husband have pledged $2 million to University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School (UMMS) to advance ALS and neuroscience research. The UMass ALS Cellucci Fund supports Dr. Brown’s work to identify new genetic targets and develop novel gene therapies. [University of Massachusetts Medical School] Press Release

Mitochon Pharmaceuticals Awarded Grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to Support Mitochondrial Research in Parkinson’s

Mitochon Pharmaceuticals announced that it was awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help develop its mitochondrial targeted compounds for treating Parkinson’s disease. The funding will go to pivotal animal studies to assess the benefits of Mitochon’s compounds in ameliorating the deficits associated with dopaminergic neuron loss, the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. [Mitochon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

National Cancer Institute Awards Grant to NuvOx Pharma for Phase II Clinical Trial in Brain Cancer

The National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute has awarded a grant for up to $3 million to NuvOx Pharma to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for the investigational drug, NVX-108, in the brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. [NuvOx Pharma (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Joseph Moskal Receives Top Biotechnology Innovator Award

Northwestern Engineering professor Joseph Moskal has received the iCON Innovator Award from the Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, an industry association of more than 200 companies, academic institutions, and service providers dedicated to making Illinois and the Midwest a leader in life sciences ventures and technology. [Northwestern University] Press Release

Biohaven Reports Negative Topline Data from Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) Phase II/III Trial

Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. reported topline results from its Phase II/III clinical trial evaluating trigriluzole compared to placebo for the treatment of patients with SCA. In this trial, trigriluzole did not differentiate from placebo on the primary endpoint of the mean change from baseline on the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia after eight weeks of treatment. [Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Asterias Announces Two Significant Developments for Spinal Cord Injury Program

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced new 12-month data from the first efficacy cohort in the company’s ongoing Phase I/IIa SCiStar study designated to evaluate safety and efficacy of AST-OPC1. The 12-month data showed 67% of Cohort 2 subjects have recovered two or more motor levels on at least one side through 12 months, which is more than double the rates of recovery seen in both matched historical controls and published data in a similar population. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

VITRUVIAN BioMedical Licenses New Alzheimer’s Vaccine Targeting ABeta + TAU

VITRUVIAN BioMedical, Inc. announced obtaining the Exclusive License for a new Therapeutic Vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease from Dr. Yoh Matsumoto from the Immunotherapy Development Inc. in Saitama, Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan. [VITRUVIAN BioMedical, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Judge Recommends Ruling to Block Internet Access to Sci-Hub

The American Chemical Society (ACS) brought a case against Sci-Hub, a pirate site providing access to scientific articles, for copyright and trademark infringement. Following a hearing at a court in Virginia, Magistrate Judge John Anderson filed a report that recommended ruling in favor of ACS on all counts. [The Scientist] Editorial

After Upheaval, Russian Academy of Sciences Gets New Leader

After months of uncertainty, the Russian Academy of Sciences finally has a new leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved physicist Alexander Sergeyev as the academy’s president for the next five years. Sergeyev has vowed to secure more money for Russian science and create a fund, through a new tax on fossil fuel company profits, for upgrading the country’s antiquated research infrastructure. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Researchers Caught in Growing Rift over Catalan Independence

Scientists in Catalonia are feeling the ripples of a severe crisis as the region’s bid for independence from Spain comes to a head. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

French Government Proposes Big Science-Spending Boost

French research funding is set for a heartening increase in the country’s first budget under President Emmanuel Macron, if draft 2018 plans are voted into law. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 14^th Annual Stem Cell Symposium: Technology Innovation for Stem Cell Research and Therapy
February 2, 2018
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW PhD Students – Glioblastomas (Various Organizations)

Research Associate – Wnt Signaling (University College London)

PhD Position – Extracellular Vesicles in Neural Cell Communication (Institut of Molecular Biology)

PhD Studentships – Molecular Biology (Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology)

Faculty Position – Neurobiology (University of California, Berkeley)

Postdoctoral Positions – Circular RNAs and Circadian Rhythms (Brandeis University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer and/or Glioma Stem Cells (Cornell University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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