Neural Cell News Volume 12.42 | Oct 24 2018

TOP STORY

A Biobank of Patient-Derived Pediatric Brain Tumor Models

Scientists generated and comprehensively characterized 30 patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models and seven cell lines representing 14 molecular subgroups of pediatric brain tumors. Patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models were found to be representative of the human tumors they were derived from in terms of histology, immunohistochemistry, gene expression, DNA methylation, copy number, and mutational profiles. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Chromatin Run-On and Sequencing Maps the Transcriptional Regulatory Landscape of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Researchers identified enhancers that regulate groups of genes that are characteristic of each known glioblastoma subtype and transcription factors that drive them. They discovered a core group of transcription factors that control the expression of genes associated with clinical outcomes. [Nat Genet] Abstract | Press Release

CRISPR Activation Screens Systematically Identify Factors that Drive Neuronal Fate and Reprogramming

Investigators developed a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) approach to systematically identify regulators of neuronal-fate specification. They activated expression of all endogenous transcription factors and other regulators via a pooled CRISPRa screen in embryonic stem cells, revealing genes including epigenetic regulators such as Ezh2 that can induce neuronal fate. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

ALS/FTD-Linked Mutation in FUS Suppresses Intra-Axonal Protein Synthesis and Drives Disease without Nuclear Loss-of-Function of FUS

Through the generation of humanized FUS mice expressing full-length human FUS, scientists identified that when expressed at near endogenous murine FUS levels, both wild-type and ALS-causing and frontotemporal dementia-causing mutations complement the essential functions of murine FUS. [Neuron] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Expression-Based Drug Screening of Neural Progenitor Cells from Individuals with Schizophrenia

Investigators compared the transcriptional responses of eight commonly used cancer cell lines directly with that of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells from 12 individuals with schizophrenia and 12 controls across 135 drugs, generating 4320 unique drug-response transcriptional signatures. [Nat Commun] Full Article

HSP90-Incorporating Chaperome Networks as Biosensor for Disease-Related Pathways in Patient-Specific Midbrain Dopamine Neurons

The authors identified early Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenic events by developing methodology that utilizes recent innovations in human pluripotent stem cells and chemical sensors of HSP90-incorporating chaperome networks. They showed that events triggered by PD-related genetic or toxic stimuli alter the neuronal proteome, thereby altering the stress-specific chaperome networks, which produce changes detected by chemical sensors. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Noggin Rescues Age-Related Stem Cell Loss in the Brain of Senescent Mice with Neurodegenerative Pathology

Reseachers demonstrated that blocking BMP signaling by means of Noggin administration is beneficial to the hippocampal microenvironment, restoring stem cell numbers, neurogenesis, and behavior. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Mutations in GFAP Disrupt the Distribution and Function of Organelles in Human Astrocytes

Researchers generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two Alexander disease (AxD) patients and corrected the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mutations to examine the effects of mutant GFAP on human astrocytes. AxD astrocytes displayed GFAP aggregates, recapitulating the pathological hallmark of AxD. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Human Huntington’s Disease iPSC-Derived Cortical Neurons Display Altered Transcriptomics, Morphology, and Maturation

Scientists differentiated Huntington’s disease (HD) and non-diseased induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into functional cortical neurons. While HD patient iPSCs could successfully differentiate toward a cortical fate in culture, the resulting neurons displayed altered transcriptomics, morphological and functional phenotypes indicative of altered corticogenesis in HD. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

BMI1 Is a Therapeutic Target in Recurrent Medulloblastoma

Using a small molecule inhibitor against BMI1, PTC-028, investigators were able to demonstrate complete ablation of self-renewal of medulloblastoma stem cells in vitro. When administered to mice xenografted with patient tumors, they observed significant reduction in tumor burden in both local and metastatic compartments and subsequent increased survival, without neurotoxicity. [Oncogene] Abstract

T-Type Calcium Channels Determine the Vulnerability of Dopaminergic Neurons to Mitochondrial Stress in Familial Parkinson Disease

Investigators generated dopaminergic neurons from PARK2 patient-specific, isogenic PARK2 null and PARK6 patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells and found that these neurons exhibited more apoptosis and greater susceptibility to rotenone-induced mitochondrial stress. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

A Stem Cell-Based Screening Platform Identifies Compounds that Desensitize Motor Neurons to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

The authors developed a stem cell-based motor neuron assay to study cell-autonomous mechanisms causing motor neuron degeneration, with implications for ALS. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Enrichment and Identification of Neural Stem Cells in Neurospheres using Rigidity-Tunable Gels

To investigate how extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity acts on neural stem cells to drive specific biological processes, scientists performed live 3D-imaging on neurospheres in medium, in 1% and 1.5% agarose gel-medium matrix. They revealed that neurospheres in stiffer ECM exhibited higher stem cell ratio than those in medium. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Cancer Stem Cell News & ESC & iPSC News.

Somatic Mosaicism and Neurodevelopmental Disease

Somatic mutations are one important cause of neuronal migration and brain overgrowth disorders, as suggested by visible focal lesions. In addition, somatic mutations contribute to neurodevelopmental diseases without visible lesions, including epileptic encephalopathies, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder, and may contribute to a broad range of neuropsychiatric diseases. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

Human Cortical Neuron Generation Using Cell Reprogramming: A Review of Recent Advances

The authors discuss the reprogramming strategies that have been formulated to generate cortical neurons which are associated with many diseases including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

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

Medicenna Presented Insights from the Phase IIb Clinical Trial of MDNA55

Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. presented a poster discussion entitled “Understanding Biological Activity, Tumor Response and Pseudoprogression in a Phase-IIb Study of MDNA55 in Adults with Recurrent or Progressive Glioblastoma”. [Press release from Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2018 (ESMO) Congress, Munich] Press Release

United Neuroscience to Present Alzheimer’s Vaccine Clinical Trial Update

United Neuroscience announced that the company will present a clinical trial update for its lead vaccine candidate, UB-311. [Press release from United Neuroscience discussing research presented at the International Conference on Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD), Barcelona] Press Release

What are ‘mini-brains’, and how are they being used to study neurological development and disease? Watch Now

Unique Collaboration Utilizing the International Space Station Accelerates Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Research

The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, and Space Tango announced a bi-coastal research collaboration to study Parkinson’s disease and primary progressive MS in microgravity. [The New York Stem Cell Foundation] Press Release

UAB Study Aims to Build a Better Model for Brain Tumors

A research team led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham is launching a study to find a better model for glioblastoma, a particularly devastating type of brain tumor, to help determine the most appropriate treatment modality. [University of Alabama at Birmingham] Press Release

Pharnext Announces Positive Topline Results from Pivotal Phase III Trial of PXT3003 for Treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 1A Disease

Pharnext SA announced positive topline results from its pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating two doses of PXT3003 compared to placebo during 15 months for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A disease. [Pharnext SA] Press Release

AB Science Announces that the Masitinib Phase III Study in Alzheimer’s Disease Has Completed Patient Recruitment

AB Science SA announced that the masitinib Phase III study in Alzheimer’s disease has completed patient recruitment. [AB Science SA] Press Release

Intra-Cellular Therapies Announces Favorable Safety Profile for ITI-214 in a Phase I/II Clinical Trial in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. announced topline results from the company’s Phase I/II clinical study evaluating ITI-214, its potent and selective phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor, in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease (PD) maintained on stable PD medication. [Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.] Press Release

Cortexyme Announces Phase I Data Demonstrating COR388 Is Safe and Well Tolerated in Healthy Older Volunteers and Alzheimer’s Patients

Cortexyme, Inc. announced encouraging results from its Phase I clinical trial of COR388, the company’s lead small molecule in development as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. [Cortexyme, Inc. (Business Wire Inc.)] Press Release

Bioarctic Is Granted a Concept Patent in Europe for the Company’s Strategy for Disease-Modifying Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

BioArctic AB announced that the European Patent Office has issued a decision to grant the company’s patent application in Europe, EP09738534.8, for its Parkinson’s disease concept patent. [BioArctic AB] Press Release

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Names 10 New Members to Scientific Council

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has named 10 new members to its Scientific Council, now comprised of 181 leading scientists from across disciplines in brain and behavior research. [The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation] Press Release

Hard Brexit Could Cripple UK Science, Say Nobel Prizewinners

A coalition of Nobel laureates has said a hard Brexit could cripple UK science, in a letter to Theresa May and the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker. The letter, signed by 29 Nobel prizewinners and six Fields medalists, says the UK “must now strive to ensure that as little harm as possible is done to research”. [The Guardian] Editorial

Numerous Life Scientists Seek Election to State Legislatures

In local races across the country, researchers are running on platforms of bringing more evidence-based decision-making into state governments. [The Scientist] Editorial

China Hides Identities of Top Scientific Recruits Amidst Growing US Scrutiny

China’s flagship science talent recruitment program, the Thousand Talents Plan, has gone underground amidst intensifying scrutiny by United States government agencies for China’s suspected role in the theft of US technologies and intellectual property. [Nature News] Editorial

First Analysis of ‘Pre-Registered’ Studies Shows Sharp Rise in Null Findings

Studies that fail to find a positive result are often filed away, never to see the light of day, which leads to a publication bias that compromises the credibility of scientific literature. An analysis now suggests that registering and peer-reviewing study protocols before research is conducted could improve this ‘file-drawer problem’, and help to correct the existing publication bias towards positive findings. [Nature News] Editorial

Leading Cancer-Research Charity Takes Tough Stance on Bullying

One of the world’s biggest funders of cancer research has launched an anti-bullying policy that could lead to the withdrawal of funding from scientists whose institutions uphold allegations made against them. The policy, announced by Cancer Research UK, makes the charity the second major UK research funder to introduce anti-bullying and anti-harassment rules. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Translation of Stem Cells to the Clinic: Challenges and Opportunities
December 2-4, 2018
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Medulloblastoma (University of California, San Francisco)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology (The University of Texas at Austin)

Assistant Professor – Neural Network Plasticity & Integrative Neuroscience (University of Montréal)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Neural and Cancer Biology (French National Institute for Health and Biomedical Research)

PhD Positions – Neuroscience (International Max Planck Research School for Neural Circuits)

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)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cell Biology of Neural Development (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Tenure Eligible Investigator – Neurobiology (Universite Bourgogne Franche-Comté)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Neural Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.