Neural Cell News Volume 13.38 | Oct 2 2019

TOP STORY

Miro1 Marks Parkinson’s Disease Subset and Miro1 Reducer Rescues Neuron Loss in Parkinson’s Models

The authors explored the clinical utility of Miro1 for detecting Parkinson’s disease and for gauging potential treatments. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Zika Virus Enhances Monocyte Adhesion and Transmigration Favoring Viral Dissemination to Neural Cells

Scientists showed that Zika virus-infected monocytes represent suitable carriers for viral dissemination to the central nervous system using human primary monocytes, cerebral organoids derived from embryonic stem cells, organotypic mouse cerebellar slices, a xenotypic human-zebrafish model, and human fetus brain samples. [Nat Commun] Full Article

LanCL1 Promotes Motor Neuron Survival and Extends the Lifespan of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mice

Researchers report in vivo data using a transgenic SOD1^G93A mouse model of ALS indicating that CNS-specific expression of lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 1 (LanCL1) transgene extended lifespan, delayed disease onset, decelerated symptomatic progression, and improved motor performance of SOD1^G93A mice. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

The Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene OPCML Regulates Spine Maturation and Cognitive Behaviors through Eph-Cofilin Signaling

Opcml-deficient mice displayed impaired cognitive behaviors and abnormal sensorimotor gating, which were similar to features in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

MAG Induces Apoptosis in Cerebellar Granule Neurons through p75^NTR Demarcating Granule Layer/White Matter Boundary

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) induced apoptosis in developing cerebellar granule neurons through p75^NTR signaling. Deletion of p75^NTR in vivo reduced the number of apoptotic neurons in cerebellar white matter during development leading to reduction in the size of white matter in the adulthood. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Dynamin and Reverse-Mode Sodium Calcium Exchanger Blockade Confers Neuroprotection from Diffuse Axonal Injury

The authors investigated changes in protein expression of potential targets following mild traumatic brain injury using an in vivo controlled cortical impact model. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Paradoxical Epigenetic Regulation of XAF1 Mediates Plasticity towards Adaptive Resistance Evolution in MGMT-Methylated Glioblastoma

XAF1, a tumor suppressor protein, paradoxically emerged as a mediator of differential plasticities towards adaptive resistance to temozolomide through epigenetic regulation. XAF1 promoted resistance both in vitro and in vivo. [Sci Rep] Full Article

VDAC1 Is Essential for Neurite Maintenance and the Inhibition of Its Oligomerization Protects Spinal Cord from Demyelination and Facilitates Locomotor Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

Scientists investigated the functional role of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 1 (VDAC1) in the neurodegeneration triggered by spinal cord injury. [Sci Rep] Full Article

mIR-21 Derived from the Exosomes of MSCs Regulates the Death and Differentiation of Neurons in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

The exosomes isolated from the supernatant of cultured MSCs could improve the functional recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI) rats by reducing SCI-induced neuron loss. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Combined Treatment with Three Natural Antioxidants Enhances Neuroprotection in a SH-SY5Y 3D Culture Model

Researchers evaluated the neuroprotective effect of three phytochemicals (sulforaphane, epigallocatechin gallate, and plumbagin) alone or in combination, focusing on their ability to counteract oxidative stress. The combined treatment was found to be more effective than the single treatments. [Antioxidants] Abstract | Full Article Download

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NAD⁺ in Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders

The authors review emerging findings that reveal key roles for NAD⁺ and related metabolites in the adaptation of neurons to a wide range of physiological stressors and in counteracting processes in neurodegenerative diseases, such as those occurring in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington diseases, and ALS. [Cell Metab] Abstract

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

Tmunity Announces Exclusive License and Research Collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to Advance GPC2 CAR-T Cell Therapy for Neuroblastoma

Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has entered into an exclusive license and research collaboration agreement with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to advance a glypican 2 (GPC2) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for the treatment of neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects the developing nervous system. [Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Herantis Pharma Plc Provides Update on Timeline for Ongoing Phase I/II CDNF Trial

Herantis Pharma Plc announced an update on the timeline for the ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial examining Herantis’ proprietary neuroprotective factor and novel drug candidate, CDNF, in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Herantis Pharma Plc] Press Release

New NIH-Funded Translational Research Centers to Speed, Diversify Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery

To help meet the urgent need for therapies that will effectively treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, the National Institute on Aging has launched two new research centers with funding expected to total more than $73 million over the next five years. [National Institutes of Health] Press Release

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Announces Support for FDA Guidelines on ALS Drug Development

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. supports the US FDA’s publication on September 24, 2019 of “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Developing Drugs for Treatment Guidance for Industry.” [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Immunomic Therapeutics Assumes Sponsorship of ATTAC-II IND for ITI-1000, a Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Phase II for the Treatment of GBM

Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has assumed sponsorship of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ITI-1000 from the University of Florida. [Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

There’s No Taboo, No Bad Ideas’: Anyone Can Help Shape European Union’s New €94 Billion Research Program

These encouraging words were spoken here last week at the European Research and Innovation Days, where policy bigwigs working with the European Commission invited the audience to help shape Europe’s next seven-year research funding program, Horizon Europe, set to begin in 2021. Their message: Anyone can help “cocreate” the program’s outlines. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Trump Set to Nominate Stephen Hahn as FDA Commissioner, Pending Vetting Process

President Trump is set to nominate Dr. Stephen Hahn to lead the FDA, pending completion of the vetting process, according to two people familiar with the selection process. Hahn, an oncologist, is the chief medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW AACR-KCA Joint Workshop on Precision Medicine
November 14-15, 2019
Seoul, Korea

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Neural Precursor Cells (University of South Florida)

Faculty Positions – Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Amyloid Filiments in Neurodegenerative Disease (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Pediatric Brain Tumors (Baylor College of Medicine)

Research Fellow – Neurodegenerative Disease (University College London)

Faculty Positions – Brain Disorders (IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Neural Cell Research (New York Medical College)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neural Research (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Assistant Professor – Neurobiology (University of California, Berkeley)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Neural Stem Cell Research (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Associate Research Scientist – Brain Research (Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute)

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