Neural Cell News Volume 13.46 | Nov 27 2019

TOP STORY

NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Drives Tau Pathology

Scientists showed that loss of NLRP3 inflammasome function reduced tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation by regulating tau kinases and phosphatases. Tau activated the NLRP3 inflammasome and intracerebral injection of fibrillar amyloid-beta-containing brain homogenates induced tau pathology in an NLRP3-dependent manner. [Nature] Abstract

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Brain Endothelial Cells Maintain Lactate Homeostasis and Control Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Researchers showed that lactate levels affected adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Cerebrovascular-specific deletion of PTEN caused learning and memory deficits and disrupted adult neurogenesis with accompanying lactate accumulation. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

A Single-Cell Atlas of Entorhinal Cortex from Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Gene Expression Regulation

The authors reported that the Alzheimer’s disease risk gene APOE was specifically repressed in Alzheimer’s disease oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and astrocyte subpopulations and upregulated in an Alzheimer’s disease-specific microglial subopulation. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

Cortical Output Is Gated by Horizontally Projecting Neurons in the Deep Layers

Scientists reported the origins of the pyramidal tract neurons’ ability to respond to a broad range of stimuli with onset latencies that rivaled or even preceded those of their intracortical input neurons. [Neuron] Full Article

The Proteasome Regulator PI31 Is Required for Protein Homeostasis, Synapse Maintenance, and Neuronal Survival in Mice

Researchers generated global and conditional PI31 knockout mouse strains and showed that this protein was required for protein homeostasis, and that its conditional inactivation in neurons disrupted synaptic structures and long-term survival. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

Oligodendrocyte Neurofascin Independently Regulates Both Myelin Targeting and Sheath Growth in the CNS

Investigators found that loss of oligodendrocyte Neurofascin led to mistargeting of myelin to cell bodies, without affecting targeting to axons. In addition, loss of Neurofascin reduced central nervous system myelination by impairing myelin sheath growth. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

DGCR8/ZFAT-AS1 Promotes CDX2 Transcription in a PRC2 Complex Dependent Manner to Facilitate the Malignant Biological Behavior of Glioma Cells

DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 8 (DGCR8) and caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) were highly expressed, and ZFAT antisense RNA 1 (ZFAT-AS1) was markedly down-regulated in glioma tissues and cells. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

BET and Aurora Kinase a Inhibitors Synergize against MYCN-Positive Human Glioblastoma Cells

The authors showed that BET inhibition decreased viability of patient-derived glioblastoma multiforme cell lines. They proposed a distinct expression signature of MYCN-elevated glioblastoma multiforme cells that correlated with significant sensitivity to BET inhibition. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Tenascin-c Mediated Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation via Regulation of MMP2/MMP9 in Glioma

Researchers showed that an extracellular protein called Tenascin-c (TNC) was involved in vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation and that TNC knockdown inhibited VM in glioma. TNC was upregulated with an increase in glioma grade. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Human Neural Stem Cells Reinforce Hippocampal Synaptic Network and Rescue Cognitive Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Grafted human induced neural progenitor/stem cells efficiently differentiated into neurons that displayed long-term survival, progressively acquired mature membrane properties, formed graft-host synaptic connections with mouse neurons and functionally integrated into local synaptic circuits. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

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Engineering Dendritic Cell Vaccines to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy

Scientists review the role of distinct dendritic cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment, with special emphasis on conventional type 1 dendritic cells. Integrating new knowledge of dendritic cell biology and advancements in cell engineering, they provide a blueprint for the rational design of optimized dendritic cell vaccines for personalized cancer medicine. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Recent Advances of the Hippo/YAP Signaling Pathway in Brain Development and Glioma

The authors summarize the results of recent studies on the physiological effect of the Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway in neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, and glial cells. [Cell Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

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

BrainStorm Announces the Mount Sinai Medical Center as a Progressive MS Phase II Clinical Trial Site

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that The Mount Sinai Medical Center has contracted with BrainStorm as a clinical study site for the Company’s Phase II open-label, multicenter study of repeated intrathecal administration of NurOwn^® in participants with progressive multiple sclerosis. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

FDA Grants Priority Review to Genentech’s Risdiplam for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Genentech announced that the FDA has accepted the new drug application and granted priority review for risdiplam, an investigational survival motor neuron-2 splicing modifier for spinal muscular atrophy. [Genentech] Press Release

Five Ways China Must Cultivate Research Integrity

A swift increase in scientific productivity has outstripped the country’s ability to promote rigour and curb academic misconduct; it is time to seize solutions. [Nature News] Editorial

Elsevier Signs First Open-Access Deal in the United States

Publishing giant Elsevier has signed its first open-access deal with a US institution, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Inside Higher Ed reports. The arrangement, which CMU announced on 21 November, will allow CMU scholars to publish articles in any Elsevier journal on an immediately free-to-read basis. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Noncoding RNAs: Mechanism, Function and Therapies
January 12-16, 2020
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Assistant or Associate Professor – Neural Repair (Burke Neurological Institute)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Neuron Diversity Mechanisms in Brain Development (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

NEW Postdocoral Studentship – Electrophysiological Methods in Neuroplasticity (The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases)

Postdoctoral Associate – Glia and Neuron Interaction (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Position – Neuroimmunology (Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center)

PhD Student – Interneuron Developmental Dynamics (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Karolinska Institutet)

Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders (Duke-NUS Medical School)

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

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

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

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