Neural Cell News 12.39 October 3, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYVascular and Neurogenic Rejuvenation in Aging Mice by Modulation of ASM Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) was increased in brain endothelium and/or plasma of aged humans and aged mice, leading to blood-brain barrier disruption by increasing caveolae-mediated transcytosis. Investigators found that ASM regulated the caveolae-cytoskeleton interaction through protein phosphatase 1-mediated ezrin/radixin/moesin dephosphorylation and apoptosis. [Neuron] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Scientists identified the orphan receptor GPR158 as a binding partner for the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) glypican 4 (GPC4). GPC4 was enriched on hippocampal granule cell axons (mossy fibers), whereas postsynaptic GPR158 was restricted to the proximal segment of CA3 apical dendrites receiving mossy fiber input. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract Analysis of Chromatin Accessibility Uncovers TEAD1 as a Regulator of Migration in Human Glioblastoma TEAD1 ablation robustly diminished migration, both in vitro and in vivo, and altered migratory and EMT transcriptome signatures with consistent downregulation of its target AQP4. TEAD1 overexpression restored AQP4 expression, and both TEAD1 and AQP4 overexpression rescued migratory deficits in TEAD1-knockout cells, implicating a direct regulatory role for TEAD1-AQP4 in glioblastoma migration. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release Researchers generated a fully functional, bona fide neural stem cell (NSC) population from adult blood cells that remained highly responsive to regional patterning cues. Upon conversion, low passage induced NSCs displayed a profound loss of age-related DNA methylation signatures, which further eroded across extended passaging, thereby approximating the DNA methylation age of isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursors. [Nat Commun] Full Article The authors generated a conditional loss of N-cadherin (CDH2) in cerebellar granule cells and in glia. Granule cell migration was slowed in cerebellar slice cultures after a conditional loss of neuronal Cdh2, and more severe migration defects occurred after a conditional loss of glial Cdh2. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article Depletion of microglia during encephalitis resulted in enhanced virus spread and increased lethality. Morphological analysis of myeloid cells showed that type I IFN receptor signaling of neurons had a stronger impact on the activation of myeloid cells than of astrocytes. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Astrocyte Activation by the Circadian Clock Protein BMAL1 Astrocyte-specific Bmal1 deletion induced astrocyte activation and inflammatory gene expression in vitro and in vivo, mediated in part by suppression of glutathione-S-transferase signaling. Functionally, loss of Bmal1 in astrocytes promoted neuronal death in vitro. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Modifying Rap1-Signaling by Targeting Pde6δ Is Neuroprotective in Models of Alzheimer’s Disease Newly identified inhibitors of the Rap1-Pde6δ interaction counteracted Alzheimer’s disease phenotypes, by reconfiguring Rap1 signaling underlying synaptic efficacy, Ca2+ influx, and neuronal repolarization, without adverse effects in-cellulo or in-vivo. [Mol Neurodegener] Full Article Pairing of Saposin C or prosaptides with GPR37L1/GPR37 has been challenged and presently GPR37L1/GPR37 have regained orphan status. Researchers demonstrated that in their natural habitat, astrocytes, these receptors mediated a range of effects of TX14(Archive), including protection from oxidative stress. [Glia] Full Article Investigators showed that Rer1 was required for the sufficient cell surface expression and activity of γ-secretase complex, which modulates Notch signaling during mouse cerebral cortex development. In Rer1-deficient cells, a subpopulation of γ-secretase complexes and components was transported to and degraded in lysosomes, thereby significantly reducing the amount of γ-secretase complex on the cell surface. [PLoS Genet] Full Article Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cancer Stem Cell News & ESC & iPSC News. | |
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REVIEWSTherapeutic Strategies for Parkinson Disease: Beyond Dopaminergic Drugs The authors discuss the challenges associated with the development of novel therapies for Parkinson disease, highlighting emerging agents that aim to target cell death, as well as new targets offering a symptomatic approach to managing features and progression of the disease. [Nat Rev Drug Discov] Abstract TREM2 — a Key Player in Microglial Biology and Alzheimer’s Disease Variations in triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), one of several genes for which expression is restricted to microglia in the brain, have now been shown to increase the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Invetigators review the current data detailing the role of TREM2 in microglial biology and AD. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSGenentech Announces New Data for Risdiplam in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Genentech announced interim clinical data from the dose-finding parts of the pivotal FIREFISH and SUNFISH studies investigating risdiplam in SMA. [Press release from Genentech, Inc. discussing research presented at the 23rd International Annual Congress of the World Muscle Society, Mendoza] Press Release Genentech announced that new data on OCREVUS® in people with relapsing and primary progressive forms of MS will be presented. [Press release from Genentech, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 34th Congress of the European Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Berlin] Press Release Acorda to Present Data for INBRIJA™ Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. will present a new post-hoc efficacy analysis from SPAN-PD, the pivotal Phase III trial of INBRIJA. [Press release from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Hong Kong] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSCentogene and Denali Therapeutics announced a strategic collaboration for the global identification and recruitment of LRRK2 mutation carrier Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. CENTOGENE will conduct a targeted global recruitment campaign focused on the early identification and characterization of LRRK2 PD patients and sequence the LRRK2 gene in these patients. [CENTOGENE AG] Press Release InVivo Therapeutics Announces Joint Research Collaboration with Q Therapeutics, Inc. InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. announced that it has entered into a joint research agreement with Q Therapeutics, Inc. The research collaboration is focused on the evaluation of the combination of InVivo’s proprietary PLGA-PLL based Neuro-Spinal Scaffold with Q Therapeutics’ adult neural progenitor cells, including those from induced pluripotent stem cells. [InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp.] Press Release Oligomerix, Inc., announced the receipt of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I/Phase II Fast-Track grant for $2.49 million from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging. [Oligomerix, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release BioAxone BioSciences, Inc. announced the receipt of a Fast-Track grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, as part of the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research Program. [BioAxone (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release Physicians at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center have enrolled the first two patients nationwide in an international Phase II clinical trial of Kazia Therapeutics’s novel therapy, GDC-0084, for glioblastoma. [John Theurer Cancer Center (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release PharmAbcine, Inc., announced that the company received “Study May Proceed Letter “ from the US FDA for the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of its flagship antibody, TTAC-0001. [PharmAbcine, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release The National MS Society has just committed $12 million to support 40 new multi-year MS research projects. These are part of a comprehensive approach to accelerate research breakthroughs aimed at stopping multiple sclerosis, restoring function that has been lost, and ending the disease forever. [The National MS Society] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSAt NEJM, a Change at the Top Offers a Chance to Reshape the World’s Oldest Medical Journal The retirement of Dr. Jeffrey Drazen as editor of the New England Journal of Medicine has created an opportunity to bring a new perspective to what is arguably the world’s most prestigious medical journal. [STAT News] Editorial U.K. Scientists ‘Are Going to Be All Right,’ after Brexit, Science Minister Promises In January, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Sam Gyimah as science and universities minister as a part of a broader cabinet reshuffle. During his visit, Gyimah spoke with Science about the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, a topic that is causing a great deal of anxiety among U.K. scientists. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 30th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Assistant Professor – Department of Neuroscience (Columbia University) Tenure Eligible Investigator – Neurobiology (Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comte) Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Brain Tumors (Columbia University) PhD Student – Aging and Neurodegeneration (DZNE Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenratie Erkrankungen) Assistant Professor – Systems Neuroscience (Carnegie Mellon University) Tenure Eligible Investigator – Neurobiology (Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comté) Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell-Based Modeling of Psychiatric Disease (Universitat Bonn) Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University) 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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