Neural Cell News Volume 12.14 | Apr 11 2018

TOP STORY

‘Sleeping’ Stem Cells Could Aid Regenerative Medicine for Brain Repair

Scientists identified a new type of stem cell in the brain which they say has a high potential for repair following brain injury or disease. [Press release from the University of Cambridge discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Gain of Toxic Apolipoprotein E4 Effects in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons Is Ameliorated by a Small-Molecule Structure Corrector

Using human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that expressed apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), a variant of the APOE gene product and the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, the authors demonstrated that ApoE4-expressing neurons had higher levels of tau phosphorylation, unrelated to their increased production of amyloid-β peptides, and that they displayed GABAergic neuron degeneration. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release | Editorial

Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis Persists throughout Aging

Scientists found similar numbers of intermediate neural progenitors and thousands of immature neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG), comparable numbers of glia and mature granule neurons, and equivalent DG volume across ages. Nevertheless, older individuals had less angiogenesis and neuroplasticity and a smaller quiescent progenitor pool in anterior-mid DG, with no changes in posterior DG. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Reciprocal Signaling between Glioblastoma Stem Cells and Differentiated Tumor Cells Promotes Malignant Progression

The authors interrogated reciprocal signaling between glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and their differentiated glioblastoma cell (DGC) progeny. They found that DGCs accelerated GSC tumor growth. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Environmental Enrichment and Social Isolation Mediate Neuroplasticity of Medium Spiny Neurons through the GSK3 Pathway

Investigators identified glycogen-synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and voltage-gated Na⁺ channel Nav1.6 as regulators of neuroplasticity induced by environmentally enriched or isolated conditions—models for resilience and vulnerability. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Functional Genome-Wide Screen Identifies Pathways Restricting Central Nervous System Axonal Regeneration

Scientists used a genome-wide loss-of-function screen for factors limiting axonal regeneration from cerebral cortical neurons in vitro. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Interleukin-6 Regulates Adult Neural Stem Cell Numbers during Normal and Abnormal Post-Natal Development

Researchers showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes proliferation of post-natal murine forebrain neural stem cells (NSCs) and that, when the IL-6 receptor is inducibly knocked out in post-natal or adult neural precursors, this causes a long-term decrease in forebrain NSCs. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

hPSC-Derived Striatal Cells Generated Using a Scalable 3D Hydrogel Promote Recovery in a Huntington Disease Mouse Model

Scientists generated striatal progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) within a fully defined and scalable PNIPAAm-PEG 3D hydrogel. Transplantation of 3D-derived striatal progenitors into a transgenic mouse model of Huntington disease slowed disease progression, improved motor coordination, and increased survival. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Effects of 3D Culturing Conditions on the Transcriptomic Profile of Stem-Cell-Derived Neurons

Investigators report the characterization of the effects of different culturing conditions on the transcriptomic profiles of induced neuronal cells and developed a method for the rapid generation of 3D co-cultures of neuronal and astrocytic cells from the same pool of human embryonic stem cells. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract

TNF-α Induces Human Neural Progenitor Cell Survival after Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation by Activating the NF-κB Pathway

Scientists investigated the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) pretreatment on human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) under ischemia-related conditions in vitro. hNPCs harvested from fetal brain tissue were pretreated with TNF-α before being subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation to mimic ischemia in vitro. [Mol Med] Full Article

MicroRNA‐29a Regulates Neural Stem Cell Neuronal Differentiation by Targeting PTEN

The authors showed that the expression of miR‐29a was upregulated during neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation, while the expression of PTEN was downregulated during NSC differentiation. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Neurovascular Communication during CNS Development

Scientists review the current knowledge on how neurons in particular influence growing blood vessels during CNS development and on how vessels participate in shaping the neural compartment. [Dev Cell] Abstract

Proteostasis in Huntington’s Disease: Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Unravelling the molecular mechanisms involved in Huntington’s disease (HD) pathogenesis of proteostasis provides new insight in disease progression in HD as well as possible therapeutic avenues. Recent developments of potential therapeutics are discussed. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

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Houston Methodist Leads International Clinical Research for Rare Neurodegenerative Disorder

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is characterized by degeneration of the brain and spinal cord with progressive clumsiness and balance difficulties typically leading to total disability and death. The $6 million, five-year clinical trial readiness grant awarded to Houston Methodist and led by Tetsuo Ashizawa, MD., will focus on several anticipated investigational therapies for SCA1 and SCA3. [Houston Methodist Hospital] Press Release

UTHealth Neurologists Awarded NIH Grants to Explore Causes of Brain Bleeds, Dementia

Researchers at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have been awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore how the buildup of protein deposits in the brain can trigger dementia and stroke. [Texas Medical Center] Press Release

£2.4M Boost for Brain Tumor Research

Scientists at Edinburgh are to receive £2.4 million to find new ways to tackle brain tumors. The funding from leading charity Cancer Research UK will help researchers to understand more about how to target tumors with drugs. [University of Edinburgh] Press Release

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Announces First Patients Enroll in Open Label Extension of CENTAUR Phase II Clinical Trial of AMX0035 for Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in collaboration with The ALS Association, ALS Finding a Cure^®, the Northeast ALS Consortium, and the Massachusetts General Hospital Neurological Clinical Research Institute, announced that the first patients to complete the CENTAUR Phase II clinical trial have elected to continue treatment in an open label extension study of AMX0035. [Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Therapix Biosciences Announces Topline Results of Phase IIa Study at Yale University for Tourette Syndrome Program

Therapix Biosciences Ltd. announced topline results from its investigator-initiated Phase IIa study at Yale University, suggesting that THX-110 and palmitoylethanolamide significantly improved symptoms over time in adult subjects with Tourette syndrome. [Therapix Biosciences Ltd.] Press Release

Novartis Drug Afinitor DISPERZ^® Receives FDA Approval to Treat TSC-Associated Partial-Onset Seizures

Novartis announced that the FDA has approved Afinitor DISPERZ^®, for the adjunctive treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged two years and older with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated partial-onset seizures. [Novartis (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Beijing Launches Pioneering Brain-Science Centre

Beijing has announced plans to build a brain-science centre that will rival in size some of the world’s largest neuroscience organizations. It will also serve as a core facility for the country’s long-awaited brain project — China’s version of the high-profile brain-science initiatives under way elsewhere in the world. [Nature News] Editorial

Web of Science Owner Buys Tool that Offers One-Click Access to Journal Articles

The owner of the large scholarly search engine Web of Science — Clarivate Analytics — has bought a start-up company whose tool gives researchers one-click, legal access to journal articles even when off campus. [Nature News] Editorial

India Creates Unique Tiered System to Punish Plagiarism

The Indian government has adopted its first regulations on academic plagiarism—rules that some researchers say are too lenient and others fear go too far and will be difficult to implement. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Got Data? Survey of 2017 March for Science Doesn’t Make the Grade

A group of researchers has released the first results of a large survey of those who participated in and supported last year’s March for Science. Some social scientists say the analysis is fundamentally flawed and reflects poorly on an organization that champions scientific rigor. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor (CSH): Mouse Development, Stem Cells & Cancer
June 6-25, 2018
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Brain Disorders (New York Medical College)

Postdoctoral Biologist – Neural Cell (University of Oxford)

Research Fellow/Associate – Neuroscience and Diabetes (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Position – Bacterial Virulence Factors (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Control of Circulation (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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