Neural Cell News Volume 12.07 | Feb 21 2018

TOP STORY

Human Brain Organoids on a Chip Reveal the Physics of Folding

Researchers report the appearance of surface wrinkles during the in vitro development and self-organization of human brain organoids in a microfabricated compartment that supports in situ imaging over a timescale of weeks. [Nat Phys] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Microglia-Mediated Recovery from ALS-Relevant Motor Neuron Degeneration in a Mouse Model of TDP-43 Proteinopathy

After human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) expression was suppressed, microglia dramatically proliferated and changed their morphology and gene expression profiles. These abundant, reactive microglia selectively cleared neuronal hTDP-43. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Purkinje Cells Derived from TSC Patients Display Hypoexcitability and Synaptic Deficits Associated with Reduced FMRP Levels and Reversed by Rapamycin

Scientists developed a cerebellar purkinje cell model of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder and TSC. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract | Press Release

BACE1 Deletion in the Adult Mouse Reverses Preformed Amyloid Deposition and Improves Cognitive Functions

To mimic BACE1 inhibition in adults, the authors generated BACE1 conditional knockout (BACE1^fl/fl) mice and bred BACE1^fl/fl mice with ubiquitin-Cre^ER mice to induce deletion of BACE1 after passing early developmental stages. Strikingly, sequential and increased deletion of BACE1 in an adult Alzheimer’s disease mouse model was capable of completely reversing amyloid deposition. [J Exp Med] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Massively Parallel Single Nucleus Transcriptional Profiling Defines Spinal Cord Neurons and Their Activity during Behavior

Researchers used massively parallel single nucleus RNA sequencing to create an atlas of the adult mouse lumbar spinal cord. They identified and molecularly characterized 43 neuronal populations. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Pharmacological Inhibition of Necroptosis Protects from Dopaminergic Neuronal Cell Death in Parkinson’s Disease Models

Reconstitution of normal levels of OPA1 in Parkinson’s disease-derived neural cells normalized mitochondria morphology and function. OPA1-mutated neuronal cultures showed reduced survival in vitro. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Preserving Neuromuscular Synapses in ALS by Stimulating Musk with a Therapeutic Agonist Antibody

Scientists treated SOD1-G93A mice with an agonist antibody to MuSK, a receptor tyrosine kinase essential for maintaining neuromuscular synapses, to determine whether increasing muscle retrograde signaling would slow nerve terminal detachment from muscle. [Elife] Full Article | Press Release

Human iPS-Derived Astroglia from a Stable Neural Precursor State Show Improved Functionality Compared with Conventional Astrocytic Models

Investigators report human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astroglia developed under defined conditions through long-term neuroepithelial-like stem cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Neurons Generated by Mouse ESCs with Hippocampal or Cortical Identity Display Distinct Projection Patterns When Co-Transplanted in the Adult Brain

By manipulating Wnt and BMP signaling, researchers steered the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) toward isocortical or hippocampal molecular identity. These two types of cells showed different degrees of axonal outgrowth and targeted different regions when co-transplanted in healthy or lesioned isocortex or in hippocampus. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Therapeutic Neural Stem Cells Engineered during Different Stages of Reprogramming Reveal Varying Therapeutic Efficacies

Investigators explored the potential of creating induced pluripotent stem cell derived therapeutic NSCs by using either unmodified or gene-modified somatic cells and tested their fate and therapeutic efficacies in vitro and in vivo. [Stem Cells] Abstract

ALS-Related Human Cortical and Motor Neurons Survival Is Differentially Affected by Sema3A

Scientists tested the response of human cortical neurons and spinal cord motor neurons (MNs) to semaphorin 3A (Sema3A). They found that Sema3A enhances the survival of spinal cord MNs. In contrast, Sema3A reduced the survival of cortical neurons. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Modulation Influences Human Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

Investigators found that toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 are expressed in human neural stem cells as well as CD14 and MD-2 co-receptors, and TLR4 expression is downregulated upon differentiation. TLR4 activation promoted neuronal and oligodendrocyte differentiation and/or survival while TLR4 inhibition lead to increased apoptosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Multiple Sclerosis: Mechanisms and Immunotherapy

Major challenges for MS research involve understanding the mechanisms of disease progression, developing treatment for progressive MS, and determining the degree to which progressive disease can be prevented by early treatment. Key priorities for MS research include developing biomarkers, personalized medicine and advanced imaging, and a better understanding of the microbiome. [Neuron] Full Article

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

Acorda Announces FDA Acceptance of New Drug Application for INBRIJA^™ (Levodopa Inhalation Powder)

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the FDA has accepted for filing its New Drug Application for INBRIJA. INBRIJA is an investigational inhaled levodopa treatment for symptoms of OFF periods in people with Parkinson’s disease taking a carbidopa/levodopa regimen. [Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation Announces up to $3 Million in Funding Available to Support Industry Innovations in the Field of Aging and Brain Health

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, led by Baycrest Health Sciences, announced the third round of funding available through its Industry Innovation Partnership Program. [The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation] Press Release

FDA Expands Treatment Window for Use of Clot Retrieval Devices in Certain Stroke Patients

The FDA cleared the use of the Trevo clot retrieval device to treat certain stroke patients up to 24 hours after symptom onset, expanding the device’s indication to a broader group of patients. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

FDA Floats New Rules for Testing Alzheimer’s Drugs

In a set of draft guidances, the FDA essentially proposed to offer an approval pathway for new drugs that could prevent the onset of the devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s if drug developers could hit acceptable biomarkers that indicate the drug is working. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

UK Scientists Brace for Disruption as Huge Academic Strike Set to Begin

Tens of thousands of UK researchers are expected to walk out of their universities in a nationwide strike over pensions that is likely to disrupt scientific experiments, conferences and lectures. [Nature News] Editorial

Indonesian Scientists Hamstrung by Year-Long Funding Delay

Indonesian scientists expecting to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for research are stuck in limbo because the country’s first dedicated science-funding agency is struggling to raise enough money. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 11^th Dutch Stem Cell Meeting
May 4, 2018
Utrecht, Netherlands

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience and Mitochondrial Physiology (University of Moncton)

Research Technologist – Neural (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Multiple Positions – Neuroscience and Stem Cells (Sun Yat-Sen University)

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)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Control of Circulation (The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Assistant – Neurodegenerative Disease (Thomas Jefferson University)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

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

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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