Neural Cell News 12.11 March 21, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYClearing Clumps of Protein in Aging Neural Stem Cells Boosts Their Activity Young, resting neural stem cells have large protein clumps often associated with neurodegeneration. As stem cells age, the aggregates inhibit their ability to make new neurons, researchers say. [Press release from the Stanford University discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Scientists utilized a powerful human embryonic stem cell differentiation model for the generation of motor neurons in combination with genetic mutations in the de novo DNA methylation machinery. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Tau Kinetics in Neurons and the Human Central Nervous System Researchers developed stable isotope labeling and mass spectrometry approaches to measure the kinetics of multiple isoforms and fragments of tau in the human central nervous system and in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. [Neuron] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract Investigators showed that Nav1.1-overexpressing, but not wild-type, interneuron transplants derived from the embryonic medial ganglionic eminence enhance behavior-dependent gamma oscillatory activity, reduce network hypersynchrony, and improve cognitive functions in human amyloid precursor protein-transgenic mice, which simulate key aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract Bivalent Chromatin Domains in Glioblastoma Reveal a Subtype-Specific Signature of Glioma Stem Cells Scientists profiled six histone modifications and CTCF binding as well as gene expression in primary gliomas, and identified chromatin states that define distinct regulatory elements across the tumor genome. [Cancer Res] Abstract UTX Affects Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation through PTEN Signaling The authors demonstrated that Utx deficiency by knockdown and conditional knockout increases neural stem cell proliferation and decreases terminal mitosis and neuronal differentiation. In addition, UTX demethylated H3K27me3 at the Pten promoter and promotes Pten expression. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article High expression of DRR1 was identified to correlate with a shorter median overall and relapse-free survival. Loss-of-function assays using shDRR1 weakened the invasive potential of the GBM cell lines through regulation of EMT-markers. [Cancer Lett] Abstract Investigators report that Atg7f/fTyr-Cre mice, in which autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) is conditionally deleted under the control of the tyrosinase promoter, are a model for accumulations of the autophagy adapter and substrate sequestosome-1/p62 in both neuronal and neuroepithelial cells. [Mol Neurobiol] Full Article Using a spinal cord injury (SCI) model mouse, scientists developed a combinatorial treatment for SCI: administering anti‐high mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) antibody prior to transplantation of neural stem cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells yielded a dramatic improvement in locomotion recovery after SCI. [Stem Cells] Abstract Researchers present three protocols that are highly efficient in differentiating mouse and human embryonic stem cells, as well as human induced pluripotent stem cells, into a homogeneous and stable population of dorsal neural progenitor cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article | |
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REVIEWSThe S1P Axis: New Exciting Route for Treating Huntington’s Disease Findings in preclinical models of the disease as well as in human post-mortem brains from affected patients demonstrate that alteration of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) axis may represent a possible key player in the pathogenesis of the disease and may act as a potential actionable drug target for the development of more targeted and effective therapeutic approaches. [Trends Pharmacol Sci] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSH. Lundbeck A/S and Prexton Therapeutics BV announced signing of a definitive agreement in which Lundbeck will acquire Prexton. Under terms of the agreement, Lundbeck will pay EUR 100 million upfront and is furthermore required to later pay up to EUR 805 million in development and sales milestones to the group of current owners. [H. Lundbeck A/S] Press Release As part of its ambitious mission to speed Parkinson’s disease research toward breakthrough treatments and a cure, The Michael J. Fox Foundation announced up to $7 million in available funding for investigator-initiated projects in four fast-moving fields of inquiry. [The Michael J. Fox Foundation] Press Release CSL Behring announced that the FDA approved Hizentra® as the first and only subcutaneous immunoglobulin for the treatment of CIDP as maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of neuromuscular disability and impairment. [CSL Behring] Press Release Vasopharm GmbH Provides Update on Phase III Traumatic Brain Injury Trial Vasopharm GmbH announced that it has recruited half of the 220 patients in the ongoing, pivotal European NOSTRA III clinical trial. [Vasopharm GmbH] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSHIV Researcher Is New Head of US Public-Health Agency HIV researcher Robert Redfield will lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar announced. [Nature News] Editorial Reporter’s Notebook: House Budget Hearing Shows Science Chairman’s Impact on NSF Peer Review Representative Lamar Smith has repeatedly criticized the peer-review process at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, Virginia, since becoming chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’s science committee in 2013. It was no surprise, then, that during a hearing on NSF’s 2019 budget request he railed against a handful of grants from NSF’s $6 billion research portfolio as a waste of taxpayer dollars. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Chinese Leaders Create Super Science Ministry Chinese leaders released plans to expand the powers of the country’s science and technology ministry. The beefed-up agency will continue to oversee science policy and major projects, but will take on extra responsibilities for funding research grants and for recruiting foreign scientists. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Gordon Research Conferences: Chemotactic Cytokines Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Control of Circulation (MD Anderson Cancer Center) Research Technologist – Neural (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Associate – Tumor Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine) Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Scientist – Molecular Neuroscience (Loyola University Chicago) Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University) Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience and Mitochondrial Physiology (University of Moncton) Postdoctoral Position – Pain in Mouse Models of Spinal Cord Injury (Indiana University) Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury (Nanyang Technological University) Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neurodegeneration (Lund University) 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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