Neural Cell News Volume 12.31 | Aug 8 2018

TOP STORY

Generation and Post-Injury Integration of Human Spinal Cord Neural Stem Cells

Researchers report the derivation of spinal cord NSCs from human pluripotent stem cells. They showed that these spinal cord NSCs differentiated into a diverse population of spinal cord neurons occupying multiple positions along the dorso-ventral axis, and could be maintained for prolonged time periods. [Nat Methods] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

GFAP Mutations in Astrocytes Impair Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Proliferation and Myelination in an hiPSC Model of Alexander Disease

Scientists showed that Alexander disease (AxD) patient iPSC-derived astrocytes recapitulate key features of AxD pathology such as GFAP aggregation. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Aurora A Plays a Dual Role in Migration and Survival of Human Glioblastoma Cells According to the CXCL12 Concentration

Investigators showed that aurora A kinase contributes to glioblastoma cell survival, radio-resistance, self-renewal, and proliferation regardless of the exogenous stimulation with CXCL12. [Oncogene] Full Article

Induction of Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) Suppresses Glioblastoma Growth by Inhibiting the Hippo Pathway Transcriptional Coactivators YAP/TAZ

Scientists found in an unbiased screen of 1650 compounds that amlodipine was able to inhibit survival of glioblastoma cells by suppressing YAP/TAZ activities. Instead of its known function as an L-type calcium channel blocker, they found that amlodipine was able to activate Ca²⁺ entry by enhancing SOCE. [Oncogene] Abstract

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Induced Morphological Differentiation of Astrocytes Is Associated with Transcriptional Upregulation and Endocytosis of β₂-AR

The authors observed that a sustained activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) appeared to be critical for DHA-induced differentiation of cultured astrocytes. Prior exposure to different endocytic inhibitors blocked both ERK activation and differentiation of the astrocytes during DHA treatment suggesting that the observed induction of ERK-2 was purely endosomal. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

A Differentiating Neural Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytic Population Mitigates the Inflammatory Effects of TNF-α and IL-6 in an iPSC-Based Blood-Brain Barrier Model

A fully human in vitro blood-brain barrier model with brain microvascular endothelial cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiating NSC-derived astrocytic cells was used to investigate the effects of neuroinflammation on barrier function. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract

Human Spinal Oligodendrogenic Neural Progenitor Cells Promote Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Axonal Remyelination and Tissue Sparing

Investigators described a novel approach to bias the differentiation of directly reprogrammed human NPCs toward a more oligodendrogenic fate while preserving their tripotency. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

Loss of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein Causes Aberrant Differentiation in Human Neural Progenitor Cells

Transcriptome analysis of NPCs derived from FMR1-knockout human induced pluripotent stem cells showed altered expression of neural differentiation markers, particularly a marked induction of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PLVAP and GKN3 Are Two Critical Host Cell Receptors Which Facilitate Japanese Encephalitis Virus Entry into Neurons

Among all the identified partners of E-glycoprotein, PLVAP (plasmalemma vesicle associated protein) and GKN3 (gastrokine3) showed significant up-regulation in both Japanese Encephalitis Virus infected mouse brain and neuro2a cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Neural Stem Cell Differentiation to Mature Neurons: Mechanisms of Regulation and Biotechnological Applications

The authors focus on describing the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the neuronal differentiation process by transcription factors, microRNAs, and extracellular matrix components. [Biotechnol Adv] Abstract

Stem Cell- and Gene-Based Therapies as Potential Candidates in Alzheimer’s Therapy

Researchers summarize a variety of effective therapeutic approaches in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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

Ovid Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline Data from Phase II STARS Trial of OV101 for the Treatment of Angelman Syndrome

Ovid Therapeutics Inc. announced that the Phase II STARS trial of OV101 achieved its primary endpoint of safety and tolerability. [Press release from Ovid Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 Angelman Syndrome Foundation/Duplication15q Research Symposium, Chapel Hill] Press Release

PRIME Designation Granted by European Medicines Agency for RG6042 for Treatment of Huntington’s Disease

Roche announced that the European Medicines Agency has granted PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation for the company’s investigational medicine RG6042 for the treatment of people with Huntington’s disease. [F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd] Press Release

Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium Expands Into Canada

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s consortium announced that through a partnership with The C17 Council Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sainte-Justine has been approved to begin recruiting patients for a pivotal clinical trial investigating the potential of a repurposed drug to prevent relapse in patients diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma who are currently in remission. [Spectrum Health] Press Release

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Announces Awards for Exceptional Research

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has announced the winners of its 2018 Klerman and Freedman Prizes recognizing exceptional clinical and basic research. The prizes honor the work of outstanding researchers who have been supported by the Foundation’s Young Investigator Grant Program. [The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation] Press Release

BioArctic Obtains Exclusive Rights to Develop Antibody Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease from a Research Project Jointly Owned with Eisai

BioArctic AB has in collaboration with Eisai identified a completely new biological target, which provides an opportunity to develop novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. BioArctic announced that the company will have exclusive rights to utilize the results from the collaboration to develop potential antibody treatments of Alzheimer’s disease. [BioArctic AB] Press Release

Japanese Medical University Admits to Discriminating against Female Applicants

A prominent Japanese medical university said that school administrators have deliberately manipulated entrance exam scores to limit the number of women admitted. The confession helps explain the lopsided gender ratio of graduates from Tokyo Medical University and strengthens suspicions that similar practices have prevailed at other Japanese medical schools. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Top US Biomedical Institute Settles Gender-Discrimination Lawsuits

The Salk Institute has reached a deal with two of three female scientists who alleged unequal treatment. Cancer researchers Katherine Jones and Victoria Lundblad have agreed to drop all claims against the institute in La Jolla, California, according to a joint statement released. [Nature News] Editorial

Embattled French Health-Agency Chief Withdraws Leadership Bid

The chief of France’s national biomedical-research agency INSERM has said that he will not run for a second term, a decision that ends months of uncertainty about his future at the organization. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Goodbye Flat Biology: In Vivo Inspired Cancer Biology and Therapy
September 9-12, 2018
Berlin, Germany

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatic Analysis of Neural Development in Nematostella (University of Bergen)

Excellence in Science PhD Scholarship Award – Neuroscience (University of Technology Sydney)

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 Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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