Neural Cell News Volume 15.12 | Mar 31 2021

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    2021-31-03 | NCN 15.12


    Neural Cell News by STEMCELL Technologies
    Vol. 15.12 – 31 March, 2021
    TOP STORY

    An Early Cell Shape Transition Drives Evolutionary Expansion of the Human Forebrain

    Scientists used cerebral organoids derived from human, gorilla, and chimpanzee cells to study developmental mechanisms driving evolutionary brain expansion.
    [Cell]

    Full ArticlePress ReleaseGraphical Abstract


    Virtual Poster Presentation: CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing of Cerebral Organoids to Model Microcephaly
    PUBLICATIONSRanked by the impact factor of the journal

    Sensing Serotonin Secreted from Human Serotonergic Neurons Using Aptamer-Modified Nanopipettes

    Investigators generated human serotonergic neurons in vitro and detected secreted serotonin using aptamer-coated nanopipettes in a low nanomolar range, with the possibility of detecting significantly lower concentrations.
    [Molecular Psychiatry]

    Abstract

    Overcoming the Inhibitory Microenvironment Surrounding Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells following Experimental Demyelination

    The authors identified sulfatase 2 (Sulf2) mRNA in activated human primary oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Sulf2, an extracellular endosulfatase, modulated the signaling microenvironment by editing the pattern of sulfation on heparan sulfate proteoglycans.
    [Nature Communications]

    Full Article

    Defective Metabolic Programming Impairs Early Neuronal Morphogenesis in Neural Cultures and an Organoid Model of Leigh Syndrome

    Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR/Cas9 engineering, scientists developed a human model of Leigh syndrome caused by mutations in the complex IV assembly gene SURF1.
    [Nature Communications]

    Full Article

    The Role of Mitophagy in the Regulation of Mitochondrial Energetic Status in Neurons

    Investigators revealed that mitophagy was broadly activated in metabolically enhanced neurons upon oxidative phosphorylation stimulation, which sustained high energetic activity by increasing mitochondrial turnover and hence facilitated mitochondrial maintenance.
    [Autophagy]

    Abstract

    Peripheral Nerve Resident Macrophages and Schwann Cells Mediate Cancer-Induced Pain

    Researchers report that depletion of sciatic nerve resident macrophages (rMΦ) in mice attenuated mechanical/cold hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain evoked by intraplantar injection of melanoma or lung carcinoma cells. Targeted deletion of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (Trpa1) revealed a key role for Schwann cell TRPA1 in sciatic nerve rMΦ expansion and pain-like behaviors.
    [Cancer Research]

    Abstract

    Cancer-Specific Loss of TERT Activation Sensitizes Glioblastoma to DNA Damage

    The authors demonstrated increased binding of a specific GA binding protein B1L (GABPB1L)-isoform–containing complex to the mutant telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter. They found that TERT promoter mutant glioblastoma cells, unlike wild-type cells, exhibited a critical near-term dependence on GABPB1L for proliferation.
    [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]

    Full Article

    Catastrophic ATP Loss Underlies a Metabolic Combination Therapy Tailored for MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma

    Scientists demonstrated that MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas were sensitive to the combined inhibition of MCT1 and complex I of the mitochondrion.
    [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]

    Abstract

    Ogt Controls Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Pool and Adult Neurogenesis through Modulating Notch Signaling

    Investigators showed that Ogt deficiency or depletion in adult neural stem/progenitor cells (aNSPCs) led to the diminishment of the aNSPC pool and aberrant neurogenesis and consequently impaired cognitive function in adult mice.
    [Cell Reports]

    Full ArticleGraphical Abstract

    Excitatory Granule Neuron Precursors Orchestrate Laminar Localization and Differentiation of Cerebellar Inhibitory Interneuron Subtypes

    The authors showed that cerebellar molecular layer GABAergic interneurons, derived from the same progenitor pool, used separate migration paths to reach their laminar position and differentiate into distinct basket cell and stellate cell GABAergic interneuron subtypes.
    [Cell Reports]

    Full ArticleGraphical Abstract

    Astrocytic Atrophy as a Pathological Feature of Parkinson’s Disease with LRRK2 Mutation

    In cell lines derived from Parkinson’s disease patients, astrocytes were characterized by a significant decrease in S100B and GFAP-positive astrocytic profiles associated with marked decrease in astrocyte complexity.
    [npj Parkinsons Disease]

    Full Article

    HIF1α/HIF2α–Sox2/Klf4 Promotes the Malignant Progression of Glioblastoma via the EGFR–PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway with Positive Feedback under Hypoxia

    Scientists discovered that glioblastoma cells exhibited features indicative of malignant progression and were present in a hypoxic environment.
    [Cell Death & Disease]

    Full Article

    Artemisinin Improves Neurocognitive Deficits Associated with Sepsis by Activating the AMPK Axis in Microglia

    In BV2 microglial cells treated with LPS, pre-application of artemisinin significantly reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressed microglial migration.
    [Acta Pharmacologica Sinica]

    Abstract

    STEMCELL's Neural Crest Differentiation Kit enables high-purity generation of neural crest precursors from human pluripotent stem cells.
    REVIEWS

    Engineered Cells as Glioblastoma Therapeutics

    Scientists focus on the use of engineered cells to treat glioblastoma, with an emphasis on data from the small number of clinical trials that have been performed to date and the lessons learned from these.
    [Cancer Gene Therapy]

    Full Article

    The Converging Roles of Batten Disease Proteins in Neurodegeneration and Cancer

    Investigators survey data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and available literature on the roles of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinose (NCL) genes in different oncogenic processes to reveal links between all the NCL genes and cancer-related processes. They also discuss the potential contribution of each NCL gene to cancer immunology.
    [iScience]

    AbstractFull ArticleGraphical Abstract

    INDUSTRY AND POLICY NEWS

    Anavex Life Sciences Reports Data Review by the Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board for its Phase IIb/III Clinical Trial of ANAVEX®2-73 in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

    Anavex Life Sciences Corp. announced that the Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board for the company’s Phase IIb/III Alzheimer’s disease study of its investigational compound ANAVEX®2-73 has completed its recent pre-planned review of the preliminary Phase IIb/III study data.
    [Anavex Life Sciences Corp.]

    Press Release

    BrainStorm Announces Positive Topline Data in Phase II Study Evaluating NurOwn® as a Treatment for Progressive MS

    BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced topline data from the company’s Phase II trial evaluating three repeated administrations of NurOwn®, each given two months apart, as a treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
    [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.]

    Press Release

    Genmab Announces European Marketing Authorization for Kesimpta® (Ofatumumab) in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

    Genmab A/S announced that the European Commission has granted Novartis marketing authorization for the use of Kesimpta® in the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features.
    [Genmab A/S]

    Press Release

    FEATURED EVENT

    The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021: Week 2

    May 17 – 21, 2021
    Virtual

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    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

    Postdoctoral Associate – Experimental Brain Ischemia/Stroke Research

    Duke University Medical Center – Durham, North Carolina, United States

    Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neuroscience

    University of Minnesota Medical Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

    Postdoctoral Positions – Neuroscience

    University of California, San Francisco – San Francisco, California, United States

    Professor – Neuroscience

    Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

    Postdoctoral Positions – Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism

    Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

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