Neural Cell News Volume 12.29 | Jul 25 2018

TOP STORY

Induction of Myelinating Oligodendrocytes in Human Cortical Spheroids

Researchers reproducibly generated oligodendrocytes and myelin in ‘oligocortical spheroids’ derived from human pluripotent stem cells. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Genetically Engineered Cerebral Organoids Model Brain Tumor Formation

Investigators established a 3D in vitro model called a neoplastic cerebral organoid, in which they recapitulate brain tumorigenesis by introducing oncogenic mutations in cerebral organoids via transposon- and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

Epigenetic Regulation of Brain Region-Specific Microglia Clearance Activity

The authors provide evidence that the polycomb repressive complex 2 epigenetically restricts the expression of genes that support clearance activity in striatal and cortical microglia. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

Direct Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Neural Stem Cells by Single Non-Neural Progenitor Transcription Factor Ptf1a

Investigators report that the non-neural progenitor transcription factor Ptf1a alone was sufficient to directly reprogram mouse and human fibroblasts into self-renewable Induced neural stem cells capable of differentiating into functional neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and improving cognitive dysfunction of Alzheimer’s disease mouse models when transplanted. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The HAUS Complex Is a Key Regulator of Non-Centrosomal Microtubule Organization during Neuronal Development

Researchers showed that neuronal migration, development, and polarization depend on the multi-subunit protein HAUS/augmin complex, previously described to be required for mitotic spindle assembly in dividing cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Genetically Corrected iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cell Grafts Deliver Enzyme Replacement to Affect CNS Disease in Sanfilippo B Mice

Scientists report that, ex vivo, lentiviral correction of Naglu^−/− neural stem cells derived from Naglu^−/− mice corrected their lysosomal pathology and allowed them to secrete a functional α-N-acetylglucosaminidase enzyme that could be taken up by deficient cells. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Full Article

Single-Cell Trajectory Analysis of Human Homogenous Neurons Carrying a Rare RELN Variant

Researchers generated human-induced pluripotent stem cells carrying a rare RELN variant using targeted genome editing; cells were further differentiated into highly homogeneous dopaminergic neurons. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article

Long Noncoding RNA Sox2ot and Transcription Factor YY1 Co-Regulate the Differentiation of Cortical Neural Progenitors by Repressing Sox2

Scientists showed that Sox2ot was expressed in the developing mouse cerebral cortex, where it represses neural progenitor proliferation and promotes neuronal differentiation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Chronic Electrical Stimulation Promotes the Excitability and Plasticity of ESC-Derived Neurons following Glutamate-Induced Inhibition In Vitro

Scientists used embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived neuron and glial co-cultures to investigate network maturation following acute administration of L-glutamate, which is a known mediator of excitotoxicity following central nervous system injury. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Expression Affects Schwann Cell Behavior In Vitro

The authors report the effect of TLR4 on cultured Schwann cells in vitro. They showed that TLR4 expression was up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury in rats. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Spatiomechanical Modulation of EphB4:ephrin-B2 Signaling in Neural Stem Cell Differentiation

Investigators reconstituted the EphB4:ephrin-B2 juxtacrine signaling geometry using a supported lipid bilayer system presenting laterally mobile and monomeric ephrin-B2 ligands to live neural stem cells. [Biophys J] Abstract

Target-Specific Forebrain Projections and Appropriate Synaptic Inputs of hESC-Derived Dopamine Neurons Grafted to the Midbrain of Parkinsonian Rats

VM patterned human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived progenitors were grafted into the midbrain of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, and analyzed at 6, 18 and 24 weeks for a time-course evaluation of specificity and extent of graft-derived fiber outgrowth as well as potential for functional recovery. [J Comp Neurol] Abstract | Full Article

Genetic Engineering to Initiate Tumorigenesis in Cerebral Organoids

Scientists describe a method combining genome-editing techniques and cerebral organoid culture system to initiate tumorigenesis. [Protoc Exch] Full Article

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Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This is an integrated review of pre-clinical and clinical studies focused on the development of cell-based therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The authors analyze the biology of stem cell treatments and results obtained from pre-clinical models of ALS and examine the methods and the results obtained to date from clinical trials. [Expert Opin Biol Ther] Abstract

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

Eisai and Biogen Present Detailed Results from Phase II Clinical Study of Elenbecestat in MCI and Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease

Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced detailed results from a Phase II clinical study of the investigational oral BACE inhibitor elenbecestat. [Press release from Eisai Co., Ltd. discussing research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018, Chicago] Press Release

Eisai and Biogen Announce Detailed Results of Phase II Clinical Study of BAN2401 in Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced detailed results from the Phase II study with BAN2401, an anti-amyloid beta protofibril antibody, in 856 patients with early Alzheimer’s disease as part of Session DT-01 “Recent Developments in Therapeutics”. [Press release from Eisai Co., Ltd. discussing research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018, Chicago] Press Release

Alzheon Presents New Findings in APOE4/4 Homozygous Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease, Further Supporting Precision Medicine Approach and Planned Confirmatory Clinical Trial with ALZ-801

Alzheon, Inc. announced the upcoming presentation of data. The presentation at the AAIC highlights new responder analyses that focus on APOE4/4 homozygous patients with Mild AD at baseline, a genetically-defined population that has previously shown the largest clinical efficacy signals in the North American Phase III study of oral tramiprosate. [Press release from Alzheon, Inc. discussing research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018, Chicago] Press Release

Asterias Provides Six Month Data Readout for Its AST-OPC1 Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial in Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. provided additional data from the company’s ongoing Phase I/IIa SCiStar study designed to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of AST-OPC1 in the treatment of severe cervical spinal cord injury. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

NIH Renews NeuroNEXT for Neurological Clinical Research

The Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials, or NeuroNEXT, has been renewed for five more years, with several new centers joining the program. NeuroNEXT is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. [National Institutes of Health] Press Release

New Evidence USCIS Policies Increased Denials of H-1B Visas

New data show that in 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied many more H-1B petitions and issued numerous costly Requests for Evidence to stop highly educated foreign nationals from working in America. [Forbes Media LLC] Editorial

Third Retraction for Harvard Cancer Biologist

Nature has issued a retraction of a cancer study, seven years after its publication, citing issues with two figures and the unavailability of original data for them. The paper, led by Harvard Medical School biologist Sam Lee, is among several publications from his group to be retracted. [The Scientist] Editorial

NIH Delays Controversial Clinical Trials Policy for Some Studies

Basic brain and behavioral researchers will get more than a year to comply with a new U.S. policy that will treat many of their studies as clinical trials. The announcement from the NIH appears to defuse, for now, a yearlong controversy over whether basic research on humans should follow the same rules as studies testing drugs. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Death
August 5-10, 2018
Newry, Maine, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist/Fellow – Neural Development and Neurodegenerative Diseases (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Mechanisms & Neural Circuits of Memory & Behavior (Rutgers University)

Senior/Principal Fellow or Professor – Program Leader for Animal Models (UK Dementia Research Institute)

Scientist/Assistant Professor – Neuroscience (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Neurodevelopmental Disorders (University of Copenhagen)

Project Leader/Director – Neurodegenerative Research (Servier Group)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Neuroscience (Louisiana State University)

Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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