Neural Cell News Volume 14.14 | Apr 15 2020

TOP STORY

Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications of Hypermutation in Gliomas

The mutational signature of post-treatment hypermutated gliomas was recapitulated by temozolomide-induced damage in cells with mismatch repair deficiency. [Nature] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Divergent Neural Pathways Emanating from the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus Mediate Distinct Components of the Pain Response

Investigators showed that that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN) was required for escape behaviors and aversive learning to noxious stimulation. In addition, they found that two populations of efferent neurons from different regions of the lPBN collateralized to distinct targets. [Neuron] Abstract

Enterovirus A71 Oncolysis of Malignant Gliomas

Researchers found that enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) could be developed as a novel oncolytic agent against malignant gliomas. EV-A71 preferentially infected and killed malignant glioma cells relative to normal glial cells. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Medulloblastoma Arises from the Persistence of a Rare and Transient Sox²⁺ Granule Neuron Precursor

The authors demonstrated that Sox²⁺ cells were within the Atoh1⁺ lineage, contributed extensively to adult granule neurons, and resembled Sox²⁺ tumor cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

MOB2 Suppresses GBM Cell Migration and Invasion via Regulation of FAK/Akt and cAMP/PKA Signaling

Ectopic Mps one binder 2 (MOB2) expression suppressed, while depletion of MOB2 enhanced, the malignant phenotypes of glioblastoma cells, such as clonogenic growth, anoikis resistance, and formation of focal adhesions, migration, and invasion. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Altered Brain Endothelial Cell Phenotype from a Familial Alzheimer Mutation and Its Potential Implications for Amyloid Clearance and Drug Delivery

Scientists derived brain endothelial cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells of several patients carrying the familial Alzheimer disease PSEN1 mutation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Nuclear Factor IX Promotes Glioblastoma Development Through Transcriptional Activation of Ezrin

The authors showed that nuclear factor IX (NFIX) was significantly upregulated in human glioblastoma lesions compared with normal or low-grade gliomas. NFIX silencing suppressed the expression of Ezrin, a protein that crosslinked actin cytoskeleton and plasma membrane, which was also positively correlated with glioblastoma malignancy. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

A Three-Dimensional Bioprinted Model to Evaluate the Effect of Stiffness on Neuroblastoma Cell Cluster Dynamics and Behavior

Investigators quantified and localized the effects of physical-chemical communication signals between tumor cells and the surrounding biomaterial stiffness over time, defining how aggressiveness increased in SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cell lines. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Nwd1 Regulates Neuronal Differentiation and Migration through Purinosome Formation in the Developing Cerebral Cortex

Scientists showed that a signal transduction ATPases with numerous domains protein, NACHT and WD repeat domain-containing 1, interacted with Paics, a purine-synthesizing enzyme, to regulate purinosome assembly in neural stem/progenitor cells. [iScience] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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

IDH Mutation in Glioma: Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Targets

The authors provide an overview of the latest findings in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutated human malignancies, with a focus on glioma, discussing unique biological signatures and proceedings in translational research. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

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

ICBII Announces the Approval of Its Latest Patent on Blood-Brain Barrier Permeable Technology Accelerating the Company’s Progress Towards Treating Neuro-Degenerative Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases

Innovative California Biosciences International, Inc. announced the approval of its patent for Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Permeable Peptide Composition. This is ICBII’s sixth US and international patent, further validating the unique capability of ICBII’s SMART molecules in overcoming the age-old BBB problem in treating diseases of the brain. [Innovative California Biosciences International, Inc. (PR Newswire LLC)] Press Release

FDA Authorizes Initiation of a Phase II Trial Evaluating MultiStem^® Cell Therapy in Trauma Patients

Athersys, Inc. announced that the FDA has authorized an Investigational New Drug application to initiate a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Athersys’ MultiStem^® cell therapy for early treatment of traumatic injuries and the subsequent complications that result following severe trauma. [Athersys, Inc.] Press Release

How Scientists Can Volunteer to Help Fight COVID-19

Around the world, bench scientists other than those actively studying the pandemic have largely been forced to scale back or even shut down their experiments out of COVID-19 precautions. But that doesn’t mean their skills and expertise can’t contribute to the worldwide effort to address the disease. [The Scientist] Editorial

After Claims of Sex Bias, Scientific Leader at NIH’s Child Health Institute Withdraws from New Job

Constantine Stratakis, the geneticist who directed intramural science at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for the past decade, withdrew from a position he was slated to take in June as executive director and chief scientific officer of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

In light of COVID-19, many conferences are being cancelled or postponed. As such:

We are suspending new event postings in our newsletters and on Twitter.
We will strive to keep our current event listings updated with event status.
We encourage you to visit event sites directly for updates.

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Brain and Disease Research (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neurogenerative Disease (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Program – Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research (Huntington Medical Research Institutes)

Scientist – Oligonucleotide Therapies for Neurological Disorders (Deep Genomics Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroimmunology (LMU University Hospital Munich)

Postdoctoral Position – iPSC Models in Neurodegeneration (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Assistant Professor – Department of Neuroscience (Univeristy of Padua Department of Neusciences)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Developmental Neuroscience (Children’s National Hospital)

Research Assistant – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine College)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience Research (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)

Associate Professor – Visual Neuroscience (Dalhousie University)

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

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

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.