Neural Cell News 12.05 February 7, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYUCSF Study Points to Immune System’s Role in Neural Development A team of researchers has shown that an immune signal named interleukin-33 plays a crucial role in allowing the brain to maintain the optimal number of synapses during the development of the central nervous system. [Press release from University of California, San Francisco discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Different Mutational Rates and Mechanisms in Human Cells at Pregastrulation and Neurogenesis Somatic mosaicism in the human brain may alter function of individual neurons. Scientists analyzed genomes of single cells from the forebrains of three human fetuses using clonal cell populations. They detected 200 to 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 Adult Neurogenesis Is Sustained by Symmetric Self-Renewal and Differentiation Using multiple clonal labeling techniques, researchers showed that the vast majority of B1 cells divide symmetrically. Whereas 20%–30% symmetrically self-renew and can remain in the niche for several months before generating neurons, 70%–80% undergo consuming divisions generating progeny, resulting in the depletion of B1 cells over time. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract CRISPR Interference-Based Specific and Efficient Gene Inactivation in the Brain Investigators showed that dCas9-based CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) can efficiently silence genes in neurons. Using a pseudotarget fishing strategy, they demonstrated that CRISPRi shows superior targeting specificity without detectable off-target activity. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract The authors generated medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from Huntington’s disease patient fibroblasts through microRNA-based direct neuronal conversion, bypassing the induction of pluripotency and retaining age signatures of the original fibroblasts. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract Miniaturized Neural System for Chronic, Local Intracerebral Drug Delivery Scientists report the development of an implantable, remotely controllable, miniaturized neural drug delivery system permitting dynamic adjustment of therapy with pinpoint spatial accuracy. They demonstrated that this device can chemically modulate local neuronal activity in small and large animal models, while simultaneously allowing the recording of neural activity to enable feedback control. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release Rbfox Splicing Factors Promote Neuronal Maturation and Axon Initial Segment Assembly Investigators generated Rbfox triple knockout ventral spinal neurons to define a comprehensive network of alternative exons under Rbfox regulation and to investigate their functional importance in the developing neurons. [Neuron] Abstract | Graphical Abstract The authors compared by RNA-Seq the neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS)-affected and CZS-unaffected twins. Prior to Zika virus (ZIKV) infection the NPCs from CZS babies showed a significantly different gene expression signature of mTOR and Wnt pathway regulators, key to a neurodevelopmental program. Following ZIKV in vitro infection, cells from affected individuals had significantly higher ZIKV replication and reduced cell growth. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release Using single cell transcriptomics, investigators defined the transcriptional changes associated with the transition of neural progenitors into motor neurons. [PLoS Biol] Full Article | Press Release Scientists developed a sensitive DNA break joining assay that uses “bait” DNA breaks introduced on different chromosomes to detect endogenous “prey” DNA breaks across the mouse brain progenitor cell genome. This approach revealed 27 recurrently breaking sites, many of which occur in long neural-specific genes associated with mental illnesses and cancer. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Human Neurospheroid Arrays for In Vitro Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease Investigators generated neurospheroids from immortalized neural progenitor cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells that are uniform in size, into large-scale arrays. [Sci Rep] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSPotential of Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Ischemic Stroke The authors provide a synopsis of different preclinical and clinical studies related to the use of stem cell-based stroke therapy, and explore possible beneficial/detrimental outcomes associated with the use of different types of stem cells. [Front Neurol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that two scientific posters describing ALSFRS-R subgroup analyses and innovative micro-RNA biomarker data from the NurOwn® Phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study will be presented. [Press release from BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, Los Angeles] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSSunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced topline results from its pivotal Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, CTH-300, that evaluated apomorphine sublingual film in patients with Parkinson’s disease who experience motor fluctuations. [Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release Impel NeuroPharma announced that the first patient was dosed in the recently-initiated Phase I clinical trial of INP104 for acute migraine headache. [Impel NeuroPharma] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSPeace is a dangerous cause to fight for in Turkey right now. In the latest blow to academics, 11 members of the Turkish Medical Association, including its president, Raşit Tükel, were arrested in early-morning raids. [Nature News] Editorial Japanese Researchers Say Science-Budget Hike Isn’t Enough Japan will sharply increase funding for science and technology in 2018 after years of stagnant support for the sector. But some scientists and policy experts worry the boost is too little to make up for more than a decade of lackluster science funding. [Nature News] Editorial Pubmed Commons Closes Its Doors to Comments The US National Institutes of Health announced that it will discontinue PubMed Commons, a tool that allows scientists to comment on articles indexed in the agency’s popular PubMed database of biomedical literature. The agency said low levels of engagement and the growth of alternate venues for public discussion of published papers contributed to its decision to close PubMed Commons after five years. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Conference 2018 Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Position – Pain in Mouse Models of Spinal Cord Injury (Indiana University) Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury (Nanyang Technological University) PhD/Postdoctoral Research Position – Neuroscience (Max Planck Society) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neurodegeneration (Lund University) Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine) Research Assistant – Neurodegenerative Disease (Thomas Jefferson University) Postdoctoral Research Fellows – Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (The University of Queensland) Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University) Postdoctoral Position – Brain Injury and Repair (University of Pennsylvania) Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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