Neural Cell News Volume 14.16 | Apr 29 2020

TOP STORY

Disease-Associated Astrocytes in Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging

Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, scientists identified a population of disease-associated astrocytes in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. These disease-associated astrocytes appeared at early disease stages and increased in abundance with disease progression. [Nat Neurosci] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Dynamic Fas Signaling Network Regulates Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Memory Enhancement

Fas activation in immature neurons of the dentate gyrus triggered mammalian target of rapamycin activation and subsequent brain-derived neurotrophic factor secretion. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Targeting Therapeutic Vulnerabilities with PARP Inhibition and Radiation in IDH-Mutant Gliomas and Cholangiocarcinomas

Using multiple in vitro and preclinical animal models of glioma and cholangiocarcinoma, researchers developed treatment strategies that used a synthetic lethality approach targeting the reduced DNA damage repair conferred by mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) using poly ribose polymerase inhibitors. [Sci Adv] Full Article

Induction of Recurrent Break Cluster Genes in Neural Progenitor Cells Differentiated From Embryonic Stem Cells in Culture

Investigators adapted a system to induce neural progenitor cell development from mouse embryonic stem cell lines deficient for XRCC4 plus p53, a genotype that enhanced DNA double-strand break persistence to enhance detection. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

m.3243A > G-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction Impairs Human Neuronal Development and Reduces Neuronal Network Activity and Synchronicity

Excitatory cortical neurons with high heteroplasmy exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction, delayed neural maturation, reduced dendritic complexity, and fewer excitatory synapses. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Netrin-G1 Regulates Microglial Accumulation along Axons and Supports the Survival of Layer V Neurons in the Postnatal Mouse Brain

Screening of molecules involved in this accumulation of microglia to axons of layer V cortical neurons identified netrin-G1. Deletion or knockdown of the netrin-G1 gene Ntng1 reduced microglial accumulation and caused loss of cortical neurons. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Entry and Exit of Chemotherapeutically-Promoted Cellular Dormancy in Glioblastoma Cells Is Differentially Affected by the Chemokines CXCL12, CXCL16, and CX3CL1

The authors investigated how chemokines affected temozolomide (TMZ)-promoted cellular dormancy entry and exit in glioblastoma cells. TMZ administration over ten days promoted cellular dormancy entry, whereas discontinuing TMZ for a further 15 days resulted in resumption of proliferation. [Oncogene] Full Article

Local Ca²⁺ Signals Couple Activation of TRPV1 and ANO1 Sensory Ion Channels

Scientists revealed an intricate mechanism of TRPV1-ANO1 channel coupling in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. Simultaneous optical monitoring of Ca²⁺-activated Cl^– channel (CaCC) activity and Ca²⁺ dynamics revealed that the TRPV1 ligand capsaicin activated CaCCs. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Modeling Human CNS Injury with Human Neural Stem Cells in 2- and 3-Dimensional Cultures

The authors developed human neural stem cell 3D cultures and tested their potential for modeling neural insults, including hypoxic-ischaemic and Ca²⁺-dependent injury. [Sci Rep] Full Article

N-Myc-Induced Metabolic Rewiring Creates Novel Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Neuroblastoma

Investigators describe the effects of N-Myc overexpression on metabolic reprogramming in neuroblastoma cells. Ectopic expression of N-Myc induced a glycolytic switch that was concomitant with enhanced sensitivity towards 2-deoxyglucose, an inhibitor of glycolysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Microglia Alterations in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Their Modeling with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell and Other Platforms

The authors provide an overview on the role of microglia in human neurodegenerative diseases and provide an update on the current model systems to study microglia. [Prog Neurobiol] Full Article

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AskBio Acquires BrainVectis to Expand its Clinical Pipeline for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. announced that it has acquired BrainVectis, a Paris-based gene therapy company and French National Institute for Health and Medical Research spin-out with expertise and an intellectual property estate for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. [Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc.] Press Release

NOXXON Announces That Data Safety Monitoring Board Validates NOX-A12 Dose Escalation in Phase I/II Brain Cancer Study

NOXXON Pharma N.V. announced that an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board has confirmed that it is safe to start patient recruitment for the middle dose cohort for the Phase I/II NOX-A12 plus radiotherapy brain cancer trial. [NOXXON Pharma N.V.] Press Release

As COVID-19 Forces Conferences Online, Scientists Discover Upsides of Virtual Format

As the novel coronavirus outbreak shutters businesses and disrupts everyday life for billions around the globe, massive annual conferences and small society meetings alike have moved online. The new format poses numerous technical and organizational challenges, but it also offers opportunities- for reaching wider audiences, reducing the carbon footprint of meeting travel, and improving diversity and equity. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Open Science Takes On the Coronavirus Pandemic

When reports emerged in late 2019 of an outbreak of a new coronavirus centred in Wuhan, China, researchers at the virological-analysis website Nextstrain were ready. The open-source project tracks the spread of viruses through genetic variations in the sequences that scientists find. [Nature News] Editorial

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

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience (Linköping University)

NEW Associate Professor – Molecular Neurobiology (Aarhus University)

Professorship – Molecular Neuropathology (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)

Researcher Position – Transcriptional Activity in Brain Diseases (Italian Institute of Technology)

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

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

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)

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

Research Assistant – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine College)

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

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

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