Neural Cell News Volume 11.49 | Dec 13 2017

TOP STORY

Aging and Neurodegeneration Are Associated with Increased Mutations in Single Human Neurons

Investigators used single-cell whole-genome sequencing to perform genome-wide somatic single-nucleotide variant (sSNV) identification on DNA from 161 single neurons from the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of fifteen normal individuals as well as nine individuals affected by early-onset neurodegeneration due to genetic disorders of DNA repair. sSNVs increased approximately linearly with age in both areas and were more abundant in neurodegenerative disease. [Science] Abstract | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Different Mutational Rates and Mechanisms in Human Cells at Pregastrulation and Neurogenesis

Reseachers analyzed genomes of single cells from the forebrains of three human fetuses using clonal cell populations. They detected 200-400 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) per cell. SNV patterns resembled those found in cancer cell genomes, indicating a role of background mutagenesis in cancer. [Science] Abstract

Molecular and Functional Variation in iPSC-Derived Sensory Neurons

The authors present a map of regulatory variants in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons, based on 123 differentiations of iPSCs to a sensory neuronal fate. [Nat Genet] Abstract

PPARδ Activation by Bexarotene Promotes Neuroprotection by Restoring Bioenergetic and Quality Control Homeostasis

To evaluate bexarotene as a treatment for Huntington’s disease (HD), researchers treated the N171-82Q mouse model with the drug and found that bexarotene improved motor function, reduced neurodegeneration, and increased survival. To determine the basis for peroxisome proliferator–activated receptors (PPARδ) neuroprotection, they evaluated metabolic function and noted markedly impaired oxidative metabolism in HD neurons, which was rescued by bexarotene or KD3010. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

BCAS1 Expression Defines a Population of Early Myelinating Oligodendrocytes in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions

Scientists found that breast carcinoma amplified sequence 1 (BCAS1) expression identifies an oligodendroglial subpopulation in the mouse and human brain. These cells are newly formed, myelinating oligodendrocytes that segregate from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and mature oligodendrocytes and mark regions of active myelin formation in development and in the adult. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

A Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Study Reveals Cellular and Molecular Dynamics of the Hippocampal Neurogenic Niche

This analysis provides a comprehensive description of the dentate gyrus cells, and it allows the identification of exclusive cell-type-specific markers. Scientists defined the developmental stages and transcriptional dynamics of neural stem cell (NSCs) and progenitors, and they found that, while NSCs represent a heterogeneous cellular continuum, progenitors can be grouped into distinct subtypes. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Accelerated and Improved Differentiation of Retinal Organoids from Pluripotent Stem Cells in Rotating-Wall Vessel Bioreactors

Investigators report a bioprocess using rotating-wall vessel (RWV) bioreactors to culture retinal organoids derived from mouse pluripotent stem cells. Organoids in RWV demonstrate enhanced proliferation, with well-defined morphology and improved differentiation of neurons including ganglion cells and S-cone photoreceptors. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Rescues Functional Deficits in R6/2 and Q140 Huntington’s Disease Mice

Researchers evaluated efficacy of transplanting a good manufacturing practice-grade human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cell line into striatum of Huntington’s disease (HD) modeled mice. In HD fragment model R6/2 mice, transplants improved motor deficits, rescued synaptic alterations, and were contacted by nerve terminals from mouse cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Neonatal Mouse Cortical but Not Isogenic Human Astrocyte Feeder Layers Enhance the Functional Maturation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons in Culture

As nervous system function is dependent on networked neuronal activity involving both neuronal and astrocytic synaptic functions, investigators examined astrocyte effects on the functional maturation of neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells. [Glia] Abstract

Genetically Unmatched Human iPSC and ESC Exhibit Equivalent Gene Expression and Neuronal Differentiation Potential

Scientists studied the gene expression profiles, pathways analysis and the ability to differentiate into neural progenitor cells and motor neurons of genetically unmatched integration-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) versus human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to highlight possible differences/similarities between them at the molecular level. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Bioprinting for Neural Tissue Engineering

The authors review a range of bioprinted neural tissue models and discuss how they can be used to observe how neurons behave, understand disease processes, develop new therapies and, ultimately, design replacement tissues. [Trends Neurosci] Abstract

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

Synlogic and Ginkgo Bioworks Announce Collaboration as First Step toward Building an Unprecedented Discovery Engine for Novel Living Medicines in Neurological and Liver Disorders

Ginkgo Bioworks and Synlogic, Inc. announced a collaboration to discover new living medicines to treat neurological and liver disorders. [Synlogic, Inc.] Press Release

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Licenses IONIS-HTT_Rx to Partner Following Successful Phase I/IIa Study in Patients with Huntington’s Disease

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Roche has exercised its option to license IONIS-HTT_Rx following the completion of a Phase I/IIa randomized, placebo-controlled, dose escalation study of IONIS-HTT_Rx in people with Huntington’s disease. [Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Evotec Enters into Research Collaboration with CRTD to Discover Novel Therapies for Retinal Diseases

Evotec AG announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with the Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD) to discover novel small molecule candidates for retinal diseases. Under the terms of the collaboration, Evotec will leverage CRTD’s expertise in stem cell-based retinal disease modeling and will apply its leading induced pluripotent stem cell technology platform to identify promising drug candidates for potential clinical development. [Evotec AG] Press Release

Up to $70 Million to Be Awarded to Advance Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials

The National Institutes of Health is expected to award up to $70 million over five years to three physician-scientists to launch the Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium, which will create a network of 35 Alzheimer’s disease trial sites across the country with the goal of finding new ways to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s. [Brigham and Women’s Hospital] Press Release

$5 Million Gift for Medical Research with Galli Chair in Medical Biology

Philanthropist Pamela Galli has given medical biology a $5 million boost with the establishment of the Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Chair in Medical Biology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the University of Melbourne. [The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research] Press Release

French Researchers Hope New Chief Will Revitalize Troubled Funding Agency

French scientists are hopeful that the newly appointed chief of a major research-funding agency will revive an organization suffering from squeezed budgets and staff discontent. [Nature News] Editorial

Iran’s Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Jailed Scholar

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed to Ahmadreza Djalali, a scholar who worked in Europe, according to the human-rights group Amnesty International. [Nature News] Editorial

Brexit ‘Breakthrough’ Raises Hope — and Questions

British science is expected to benefit from a deal that would allow EU nationals to remain in the country once it leaves the union. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The London Stem Cell Network Symposium 2018
February 26, 2018
London, United Kingdom

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position(s) – Neocortex Development/Brain Tumor Biology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Professor – Translational Neurology (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

Group Leader Position(s) – Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience (Universite de Bordeaux)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Brain 3D Coculture/Organoid Cultures (KU Leuven)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Bioengineer – Stem Cell Research (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Brain Injury and Repair (University of Pennsylvania)

Faculty Position – Neurobiology (NYU Shanghai)

Chief Neuroscience Officer (Wyss Center for Bio and NeuroEngineering)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate – Developmental Neurobiology (SUNY Upstate Medical College)

Associate Professor – Neurology (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

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

Faculty Position – Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research (Indiana University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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.