Neural Cell News Volume 6.08 | Feb 29 2012

    0
    20

    Neural Cell News 6.08, February 29, 2012

         In this issue: Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
    Cell Therapy News on Facebook  Neural Cell News on Twitter

    TOP STORY
    Increasing O-GlcNAc Slows Neurodegeneration and Stabilizes Tau Against Aggregation
    Here researchers found that treatment of hemizygous JNPL3 tau transgenic mice with an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor increased tau O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), hindered formation of tau aggregates and decreased neuronal cell loss. [Nat Chem Biol] Abstract | Press Release

    [New Webinar] Discover How to Reduce Variability in Primary Neuron Cultures with NeuroCult SM

    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

    Primary Oligodendrocyte Death Does Not Elicit Anti-CNS Immunity
    To specifically test oligodendrocyte death as a trigger for anti-CNS immunity, researchers inducibly killed oligodendrocytes in an in vivo mouse model. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

    N-Terminally Cleaved Bcl-xL Mediates Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Death
    Researchers found that the Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL inhibitor ABT-737 protected rats against neuronal death in a clinically relevant model of brain ischemia. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

    Unique Functional Properties of Somatostatin-Expressing GABAergic Neurons in Mouse Barrel Cortex
    Researchers found unique membrane potential dynamics of somatostatin-expressing neurons in layer 2/3 of the primary somatosensory barrel cortex of awake behaving mice. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

    Histone Deacetylase Complexes Promote Trinucleotide Repeat Expansions
    Expansions of DNA trinucleotide repeats cause at least 17 inherited neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s disease. In cultured human astrocytes, expansions were suppressed by 75% upon inhibition or knockdown of histone deacetylase complex 3, whereas siRNA against the histone acetyltransferases CBP/p300 stimulated expansions. [PLoS Biol] Abstract | Press Release

    NLK Positively Regulates Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling by Phosphorylating LEF1 in Neural Progenitor Cells
    Here, investigators show that inhibition of nemo-like kinase 2 (Nlk2) function in zebrafish results in decreased lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (Lef1)-mediated gene expression and cell proliferation in the presumptive midbrain, resulting in a reduction of midbrain tectum size. [EMBO J] Abstract

    Lithium Enhances Remyelination of Peripheral Nerves
    Researchers showed that the treatment of adult mice with lithium chloride after facial nerve crush injury stimulated the expression of myelin genes, restored the myelin structure, and accelerated the recovery of whisker movements. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Axonal Transport Deficits and Degeneration Can Evolve Independently in Mouse Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
    By imaging changes in axonal morphology and organelle transport over time in several animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, researchers now find that deficits in axonal transport of organelles (mitochondria, endosomes) and axon degeneration can evolve independently. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Development of GABAergic Inputs Controls the Contribution of Maturing Neurons to the Adult Hippocampal Network
    Here, researchers use photostimulation to demonstrate the time course by which anatomically isolated inhibitory inputs develop onto maturing granule cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST)-Dependent Epigenetic Remodeling Is Critical to Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Death
    Here, researchers show that neuronal insults trigger activation of REST and CoREST in a clinically relevant model of ischemic stroke and that REST binds a subset of “transcriptionally responsive” genes, of which the AMPA receptor subunit GluA2 is a top hit. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Neural Crest Stem Cells from Adult Bone Marrow: Characterization of Their Surprising Similarities and Differences
    Interestingly, researchers demonstrate that mesenchymal stem cells share with neural crest stem cells the same ability to truly differentiate into Tuj1-positive cells when co-cultivated with paraformaldehyde-fixed cerebellar granule neurons. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

    Listen Now: New Podcast on ALDH in Breast Cancer Treatment Response

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    ALS Researcher Who Died of ALS Honored with New Research Fellowship
    The American Academy of Neurology Foundation and The ALS Association are announcing the creation of the Richard Olney Clinician Scientist Development Award in ALS, named after Richard K. Olney, MD, a leading neurologist and pioneer in clinical ALS research who died late last month of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). [American Academy of Neurology] Press Release

    NIH Awards $3.3 Million Grant to Research Barrier-Breaking Brain Cancer Treatment
    New research at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University is beginning to demonstrate that a battery of innovative techniques may be able to break though the blood-brain barrier and someday allow the effective treatment of glioblastoma. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the researchers a $3.3 million, five-year grant to continue their work and perhaps bring potential treatments to clinical trials. [University of Virginia] Press Release

    Satori Pharmaceuticals Raises $15 Million in New Funding
    Satori™ Pharmaceuticals announced that it has raised an additional $15 million in financing. [Satori Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

    POLICY NEWS

    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)

    EVENTS

    NEW Engineering Conferences International (ECI) – Cell Culture Engineering XIII
    April 22-27, 2012
    Scottsdale, United States

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

    JOB OPPORTUNITIES

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software, Inc.)

    Research Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Scientist – Antibody and Hybridoma Technology Platforms (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Visual Neuroscience (RIKEN Brain Science Institute)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Program in Children’s Regenerative Medicine (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

    Recruit Top Talent
    Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

    Jobs are categorized regionally: United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East to Asia Pacific

    Visit here to post your career opportunities.

    Have we missed an important article or publication in Neural Cell News? Click here to submit!

    Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.

    Learn more about Neural Cell News: Archives | Events | Contact Us