Neural Cell News Volume 13.00 | Jan 9 2019

TOP STORY

Repeat-Associated Non-AUG Translation in C9orf72-ALS/FTD Is Driven by Neuronal Excitation and Stress

The authors found that activating glutamate receptors or optogenetically increasing neuronal activity by repetitive trains of depolarization induced dipeptide repeats (DPRs) formation in primary cortical neurons and patient derived spinal motor neurons. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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miR-195 Has a Potential to Treat Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke through Neurovascular Protection and Neurogenesis

Scientists showed that miR-195’s beneficial effects were mediated by four mechanisms anti-apoptosis for injured neural cells which directly suppressed Sema3A/Cdc42/JNK signaling, neural regeneration promoted neural stem cell proliferation and migration, anti-inflammation directly blocked the NF-kB pathway, and improved the endothelial functions. [Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev] Full Article

N-Acetylcysteine Decreases Malignant Characteristics of Glioblastoma Cells by Inhibiting Notch2 Signaling

Investigators showed that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could decrease the protein level of Notch2. Meanwhile, NAC had a decreasing effect on the mRNA and protein levels of its downstream targets Hes1 and Hey1. These effects caused by NAC were independent of cellular GSH and ROS levels. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

TRH Analog, Taltirelin Protects Dopaminergic Neurons from Neurotoxicity of MPTP and Rotenone

Researchers showed that Taltirelin, a long-acting thyrotropin-releasing hormone analog, exhibited a neuroprotective effect in both cellular and animal models of Parkinson’s disease. The in vitro study demonstrated that Taltirelin reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species induced by MPP+ or rotenone, alleviated apoptosis and rescued the viability of SH-SY5Y cells and rat primary midbrain neurons. [Front Cell Neurosci] Full Article

Dual-Frequency Ultrasound Induces Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Differentiation and Growth Factor Utilization by Enhancing Stable Cavitation

Mrphology and immunostaining results showed that all experimental groups exposed to ultrasound exhibit neurite outgrowth and neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) differentiation. In particular, dual-frequency ultrasound promoted NSPC differentiation to a greater extent than single-frequency ultrasound. [ACS Chem Neurosci] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Ethanol Induces Interferon Expression in Neurons via Trail: Role of Astrocyte-to-Neuron Signaling

U373 astrocytes, SH-SY5Y neurons, and BV2 microglia were treated with EtOH and analyzed for autocrine/paracrine IFN signaling. [Psychopharmacology (Berl)] Full Article

Downregulation of MicroRNA-33-5p Protected Bupivacaine-Induced Apoptosis in Murine Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons through GDNF.

Researchers evaluated the functional role of microRNA-33-5p in regulating bupivacaine (Bv)-induced neural apoptosis in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. DRG was extracted from adult mice and treated with BV in vitro. A TUNEL assay was applied to assess neural apoptosis among DRG cells. A qRT-PCR assay was applied to assess miR-33-5p expression among BV-treated DRG cells. [Neurotox Res] Abstract

MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells upon Cell Death Reveals an Autophagic Cell Death-Like Pattern

Scientists performed a microarray-based analysis to examine the expression signature of miRNAs in adult rat hippocampal neural stem cells. Three independent specimens per culture condition either with or without insulin were prepared and a miRNA microarray analysis carried out. A total of 12 exhibited significantly altered expression levels upon cell death due to the absence of insulin when compared to adult hippocampal neural stem cells cultured with insulin present. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

MicroRNA-135a-5p Promotes Neuronal Differentiation of Pluripotent Embryonal Carcinoma Cells by Repressing Sox6/CD44 Pathway

Scientists uncovered that Sox6 and CD44 genes were significantly downregulated during neuronal differentiation of P19 cells, a multipotent cell type. They found that Sox6 directly bound to the promoter of CD44. Importantly, they also identified Sox6 as a direct target of miR-135a-5p. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Schwann Cells Shape the Neuro-Immune Environs and Control Cancer Progression

The authors outline the interactive potential of schwann cells juxtaposed with cancerous cells, referring to data from various external sources alongside data of their own. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract

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1st Biotherapeutics and twoXAR Form Co-Development Collaboration to Discover and Develop Treatments for Glioblastoma

1ST Biotherapeutics, Inc. and twoXAR, Inc. announced an agreement to jointly discover and develop novel, efficacious treatments to address unmet medical needs in glioblastoma multiforme. [1ST Biotherapeutics Inc (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Denali Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase Ib Study of DNL747 for ALS

Denali Therapeutics Inc. announced initiation of dosing in a Phase Ib clinical study of DNL747 in patients with ALS, in collaboration with its partner Sanofi. [Denali Therapeutics] Press Release

Recursion Signs Global Licensing Agreement with the Ohio State Innovation Foundation to Develop REC-2282 to Treat Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Recursion announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with the Ohio State Innovation Foundation, the technology transfer function of The Ohio State University, gaining rights to OSU-HDAC42, a clinical-stage compound that will be developed by Recursion as REC-2282. Recursion plans to develop the compound in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a devastating rare tumor syndrome. [Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc] Press Release

First Patient Enrolled in Biogen’s Phase IIIb Study to Evaluate Extended Interval Dosing with Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis

The first patient has been enrolled in a global Phase IIIb study evaluating the efficacy and safety of extended interval dosing for natalizumab compared to standard interval dosing in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, Biogen Inc. announced. [Biogen Inc] Press Release

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Indian Scientists Protest against Unscientific Claims Made at Conference

Indian scientists have criticized two speakers at a major conference for making bizarre, unscientific claims, including that ancient Hindus invented stem-cell science. Groups of researchers held protests in Bangalore, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram on 6 January, calling for an end to presentations at the Indian Science Congress that promote unscientific personal beliefs. [Nature News] Editorial

Taiwanese Biochemist Cleared of Corruption

A Taiwanese court has cleared biochemist Wong Chi-huey of corruption. Wong, a former head of Taiwan’s foremost research institution, Academia Sinica, had been accused of accepting shares as a bribe for helping the Taiwanese biopharmaceutical firm OBI Pharma secure the rights to use enzyme-synthesis technology that he had developed. Wong denies he did anything illegal. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 15^th Annual Stem Cell Symposium: Stem Cells B2B – Bench to Bedside
February 1, 2019
Los Angeles, United States

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NEW Group Leader – Neuroscience (Bordeaux Neurocampus – Universite de bordeaux)

NEW Research Fellow (University College London)

NEW Associate Professor/Assistant Professor – Neuroscience (Hong Kong Baptist University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Alzheimer’s & Cerebrovascular Disease (Schepens Eye Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye and Eaar)

Associate Professor – Neurophysiology (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurotrauma and Neural Repair Mechanisms (University of Pennsylvania)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Neurodevelopmental Disease (Children’s National Health System)

Senior Scientist – Neuroscience Drug Discovery (Ionis Pharmaceuticals)

PhD – Neuroscience (Institute for Neuroscience)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer & Stem Cell (Weill Cornell Medicine)

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