Neural Cell News Volume 13.10 | Mar 20 2019

TOP STORY

Cerebral Organoids at the Air-Liquid Interface Generate Diverse Nerve Tracts with Functional Output

Researchers adapted air-liquid interface culture to cerebral organoids, leading to improved neuronal survival and axon outgrowth. The resulting thick axon tracts displayed various morphologies, including long-range projection within and away from the organoid, growth-cone turning, and decussation. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

H3K27M Induces Defective Chromatin Spread of PRC2-Mediated Repressive H3K27me2/me3 and Is Essential for Glioma Tumorigenesis

The authors used primary Lys-27-Met mutations in histone 3 genes (H3K27M) tumor lines and isogenic CRISPR-edited controls to assess H3K27M effects in vitro and in vivo. They found that whereas H3K27me3 and H3K27me2 were normally deposited by PRC2 across broad regions, their deposition was severely reduced in H3.3K27M cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Functional Coupling of Tmem74 and HCN1 Channels Regulates Anxiety-Like Behavior in BLA Neurons

Mechanistically, investigators demonstrated that interactions between transmembrane protein 74 (TMEM74) and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated 1 (HCN1) were physiologically relevant and that transmembrane domain 1 was essential for the cellular membrane localization of Tmem74 to enhance hyperpolarization-activated cation current. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

Elevated Signature of a Gene Module Coexpressed with CDC20 Marks Genomic Instability in Glioma

Scientists describe that elevated expression of a gene module coexpressed with CDC20 (CDC20-M), the activator of the anaphase-promoting complex in the cell cycle, marked genomic instability in glioma. The CDC20-M, containing 139 members involved in cell proliferation, DNA damage response, and chromosome segregation, was found to be consistently coexpressed in glioma transcriptomes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Modeling Patient-Derived Glioblastoma with Cerebral Organoids

The cerebral organoid glioma model showed that glioma stem cells homed toward the human cerebral organoid and deeply invaded and proliferated within the host tissue, forming tumors that closely phenocopy patient glioblastomas. Furthermore, cerebral organoid tumors formed rapidly and were supported by an interconnected network of tumor microtubes that aided in the invasion of normal host tissue. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

SOX2-Dependent Transcription in Clock Neurons Promotes the Robustness of the Central Circadian Pacemaker

Investigators report that the stem and progenitor cell transcription factor, sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), was expressed in adult suprachiasmatic nuclei neurons and positively regulated transcription of the core clock gene, Period2. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Increases the Function of Calcium-Impermeable AMPA Receptor GluA2 Subunit in Astrocytes via Activation of Protein Kinase C Signaling Pathway

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased phosphorylation of PKCα and AMPA receptor subunit GluA2 in astrocytes, and these effects were diminished by SU1498 or calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor. Moreover, siRNA-produced knockdown of GluA2 expression in astrocytes reversed the inhibitory effect of VEGF on glutamate-induced calcium influx. [Glia] Full Article

WNT Signaling Represses Astrogliogenesis via Ngn2-Dependent Direct Suppression of Astrocyte Gene Expression

The authors revealed that activation of WNT/β-catenin pathway resulted in a dramatic increase of neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) expression in transgenic mice, and knockdown of Ngn2 expression in neural precursor cells could reverse the inhibitory effect of WNT/β-catenin on astrocytic differentiation. [Glia] Abstract

Zika Virus Infection Induces miR34c Expression in Glioblastoma Stem Cells: New Perspectives for Brain Tumor Treatments

Scientists characterized the zika virus infection mechanism on glioblastoma stem cells, which are considered responsible for the tumor progression and resistance to conventional therapies. Moreover, they explain why the action of this virus was directed to the stem cells in the nervous system counterpart. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Targeting NFE2L2, a Transcription Factor Upstream of MMP-2: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Temozolomide Resistant Glioblastoma

Combinatorial therapy of diosgenin and temozolomide (TMZ) significantly reduced the dosage regimen of TMZ and also showed affectivity in hitherto TMZ resistant glioblastoma (GBM) cells. GBM cells underwent apoptosis and early cell cycle arrest with significant reduction in MMP-2 levels. [Biochem Pharmacol] Abstract

AC016405.3, a Novel lncRNA, Acts as a Tumor Suppressor via Modulating of TET2 by miR-19a-5p Sponging in Glioblastoma

AC016405.3 was demonstrated as a target of miR-19a-5p, and overexpression of miR-19a-5p reversed the inhibitive effect of AC016405.3 on glioblastoma multiforme cells proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, a novel downstream gene of miR-19a-5p – ten-eleven-translocation-2 (TET2) was found through a constructed microarray analysis. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

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Bridging Biophysics and Neurology: Aberrant Phase Transitions in Neurodegenerative Disease

The authors review evidence that implicates aberrant phase transitions as a contributing factor to a larger set of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia, certain repeat expansion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract

The Benefits of Neuroinflammation for the Repair of the Injured Central Nervous System

Investigators focus on central nervous system (CNS) regenerative responses, such as neurogenesis, axonal regeneration, and remyelination, and discuss the mechanisms by which neuroinflammation is pro-regenerative for the CNS. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

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

ProMIS Neurosciences to Present Data for Potential Best-in-Class Antibody Candidates for Parkinson’s Disease

ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. will present data for new antibody candidates that show stringent selectivity for the toxic forms of alpha-synuclein, considered a root cause of Parkinson’s disease. [Press release from ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the AD/PDTM 2019 Conference, Lisbon] Press Release

BrainStorm Announces First Patient Enrolled in Phase II Clinical Trial of Progressive MS

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase II open-label, multicenter study of repeated intrathecal administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells in participants with progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS). [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

BioArctic Announces Start of Phase I Study of ABBV-0805 for Parkinson’s Disease

BioArctic AB announced that the first clinical study with ABBV-0805 has started in the US. AbbVie is responsible for the clinical development of ABBV-0805. The Phase I study in healthy volunteers will investigate the safety and tolerability of ABBV-0805. [BioArctic AB] Press Release

FDA Grants Exemption to Import Alert for Cellectar’s CLR 131 in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients

Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted an exemption to the Import Alert placed on the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization for the use of CLR 131 in connection with the company’s pediatric IND. [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Eos Biosciences Issued Patent for New Approach to Shuttle Therapeutics across the Blood-Brain Barrier to Treat Brain Diseases

Eos Biosciences, Inc. announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted Eos Biosciences Patent No. 10,183,078, relating to a novel approach of using HER3-targeted Eosomes as a shuttle system for transporting various classes of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier for treatment of brain disorders, including brain cancer. [Eos Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Investing in the Next Generation of Researchers

The American Brain Foundation announced the recipients of its 2019 grants to the best and brightest early-career researchers pursuing cures for diseases and disorders of the brain. The Foundation awards these grants in partnership with prominent national brain disease organizations. A total of $2,377,000 is being awarded to 15 next generation researchers investigating 11 different diseases. [The American Brain Foundation] Press Release

National MS Society Funds New Clinical Trial of Individuals’ Own Stem Cells to Treat Progressive MS

The National MS Society has committed $1 million over three years to help support a Phase II clinical trial of stem cells in progressive MS. The trial is being led by Dr. Saud Sadiq at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York, and follows a Phase I trial at Tisch MSRCNY that suggested the procedure was safe. [The National MS Society] Press Release

Max Planck Florida Institute Names Two New Max Planck Research Fellows

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience announced the appointment of two Max Planck Society Fellows, Drs. Michael Halassa and Yi Zuo. The fellowship program is supported by Germany’s Max Planck Society to promote cooperation between outstanding university professors and Max Planck Society researchers for a five-year period. [Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience] Press Release

Baltimore’s African-American Clergy and Brain Research Institute Establish the Nation’s First African-American Neuroscience Research Initiative

This new enterprise partners the African-American Clergy Medical Research Initiative, comprised of prominent clergy leaders of the Minister’s Conference of Baltimore, with the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute working to develop new treatments for brain disorders. [EurekAlert!] Press Release

U.S. Researchers Hope Congress Will Dig NSF Out of a $1 Billion Budget Hole

For the second time in three years, President Donald Trump has recommended deep cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, Virginia. And scientists are hoping Congress will again come to the agency’s rescue. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Canada Budget Overlooks Basic Research

What a difference a year makes. Canada’s 2019 budget, released on 19 March, includes modest increases for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government priorities, including neuroscience and genomics research ― nothing like the historic five-year, Can$4-billion boost for basic science and research unveiled in 2018. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting
May 31-June 4, 2019
Chicago, Illinois, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Neuroscience (The University of Texas at Austin)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Neurobiology (University of Rochester)

NEW Staff Scientist – Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Senior Scientist – Neuroscience (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Neurological Diseases (University of Utah)

Research Associate – iPSC & Neurodegenerative Disease (TU Dresden)

Researcher Position – Circuit & Behavioral Neuroscience (Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurophysiology (University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Brain Tumor Biology (Lund University)

Faculty Positions – Developmental Neurosciences (Kent State University)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Regenerative Plasticity of Neural Circuits (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells & Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

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