Neural Cell News Volume 5.37 | Sep 21 2011

An Integrated In Vitro and In Vivo High-Throughput Screen Identifies Treatment Leads for Ependymoma
Using a mouse model of ependymoma, researchers combined multicell high-throughput screening, kinome-wide binding assays, and in vivo efficacy studies, to identify potential treatments with predicted toxicity against neural stem cells. [Cancer Cell] Abstract

Acetylcholine-Synthesizing T Cells Relay Neural Signals in a Vagus Nerve Circuit
Researchers found that action potentials originating in the vagus nerve regulate T cells, which in turn produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine required to control innate immune responses. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

Genome-Wide Analyses Identify Recurrent Amplifications of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and Cell-Cycle Regulatory Genes in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Researchers evaluated a large cohort of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) to identify recurrent genomic abnormalities and gene expression signatures underlying DIPG. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract | Press Release

Expanded GGGGCC Hexanucleotide Repeat in Noncoding Region of C9ORF72 Causes Chromosome 9p-Linked FTD and ALS
Findings indicate that repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is a major cause of both frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release

LIN-44/Wnt Directs Dendrite Outgrowth through LIN-17/Frizzled in C. elegans Neurons
Here, researchers show that in C. elegans the Wnt ligand, LIN-44, and its Frizzled receptor, LIN-17, regulate dendrite development of the PQR oxygen sensory neuron. [PLoS Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Intermolecular Transmission of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Misfolding in Living Cells
Expression of the enzymatically inactive, natural familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) mutations G127X and G85R in human mesenchymal and neural cell lines induces misfolding of wild-type natively structured SOD1. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

AAV Serotype 2/1-Mediated Gene Delivery of Anti-Inflammatory Interleukin-10 Enhances Neurogenesis and Cognitive Function in APP+PS1 Mice
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2/1 infection of hippocampal neurons resulted in sustained expression of interleukin-10 without its leakage into the blood, reduced astro/microgliosis, enhanced plasma amyloid-β peptide levels and enhanced neurogenesis. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Mitochondrial Gene Replacement in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitors
Here, researchers describe a novel approach that uses recombinant human mitochondrial transcription factor A protein to transfect and express a pathogenic mitochondrial genome carrying the G11778A mutation associated with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy disease, into dideoxycytidine-treated human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Sustained Induction of Neuronal Addition to the Adult Rat Neostriatum by AAV4-Delivered Noggin and BDNF
Adeno-associated virus serotype 4 (AAV4):brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and noggin-induced neuronal addition may provide a means to provide long-lasting and persistent striatal neuronal replacement in conditions of striatal neuronal loss, such as Huntington’s disease. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Adult Spinal Cord Radial Glia Display a Unique Progenitor Phenotype
Radial glia are primarily embryonic neuroglial progenitors that express Brain Lipid Binding Protein (Blbp a.k.a. Fabp7) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (Gfap). Scientists used these transcripts to demarcate the distribution of spinal cord radial glia (SCRG) and screen for SCRG gene expression in the Allen Spinal Cord Atlas. [PLoS One] Abstract | Press Release

Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Sciatic Nerve Injury
Researchers examined whether astrocyte-like cells that produce and secrete neurotrophic factors are capable of rescuing motor neurons in a rat sciatic nerve injury model, where the right hind limb sciatic nerve was crushed. [Stem Cell Rev Rep] Abstract | Press Release

Mayo Clinic Enters Collaboration that Takes Aim at Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida has entered into a collaborative and sponsored research agreement with SK Biopharmaceuticals of Seoul, South Korea, with the goal of developing new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. [Mayo Clinic] Press Release

Merck KGaA Acquires Rights to PI-2301 Program for Multiple Sclerosis
Merck announced that it has acquired worldwide exclusive rights to PI-2301, an experimental drug for multiple sclerosis, previously developed by Peptimmune Inc. [The Merck Group] Press Release

22 New MacArthur Fellows Announced: One Call Out of the Blue — $500,000 — No Strings
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 22 new MacArthur Fellows for 2011. [John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation] Press Release

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings [FR Doc No: 2011-23649] [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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