Neural Cell News Volume 6.37 | Sep 19 2012

Long-Distance Growth and Connectivity of Neural Stem Cells after Severe Spinal Cord Injury
Neural stem cells expressing GFP were embedded into fibrin matrices containing growth factor cocktails and grafted to sites of severe spinal cord injury. Grafted neurons supported formation of electrophysiological relays across sites of complete spinal transection, resulting in functional recovery. [Cell]
Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Astrocytes Regulate Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis through Ephrin-B Signaling
Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus involves activation of quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) to yield transiently amplifying NSCs, progenitors, and, ultimately, neurons that affect learning and memory. Astrocytes have been implicated, but their role in juxtacrine signaling in NSC niches has not been investigated. Researchers found that ephrin-B2 presented from rodent hippocampal astrocytes regulated neurogenesis in vivo. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

Directed Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Cerebral Cortex Neurons and Neural Networks
Efficient derivation of human cerebral neocortical neural stem cells and functional neurons from pluripotent stem cells facilitates functional studies of human cerebral cortex development, disease modeling and drug discovery. Investigators provide a detailed protocol for directing the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to all classes of cortical projection neurons. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Gliomagenesis Arising from Pten and Ink4a/Arf Deficient Neural Progenitor Cells Is Mediated by the p53-Fbxw7/Cdc4 Pathway which Controls C-Myc
To explore the role of the INK4A/ARF locus and Pten deletions in gliomagenesis, scientists generated Pten-/-Ink4a/Arf-/- mNSCs, and these cells were highly proliferative, self-renewing, relatively refractory to differentiation and induced both low and high grade glioma formation in vivo. [Cancer Res] Abstract

ALKBH1 Is a Histone H2A Dioxygenase Involved in Neural Differentiation
Scientists showed that deletion of AlkB homolog 1 (Alkbh1) prolonged the expression of pluripotency markers in embryonic stem cells, and delayed the induction of genes involved in early differentiation. In vitro differentiation to neural progenitor cells (NPCs) displayed an increased rate of apoptosis in the Alkbh1^-/- NPCs when compared to wild type cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

FoxM1 Inhibition Sensitizes Resistant Glioblastoma Cells to Temozolomide by Downregulating the Expression of DNA Repair Gene Rad51
Scientists investigated the role of the oncogenic transcription factor FoxM1 in glioblastoma multiforme cells’ resistance to temozolomide and its potential molecular mechanism. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

β-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) Deficient Mice Exhibit a Close Homolog of L1 (CHL1) Loss-of-Function Phenotype involving Axon Guidance Defects
Scientists discovered that the axon guidance defects of BACE1^-/- mice were strikingly similar to those of mice deficient in a recently identified BACE1 substrate, the neural cell adhesion molecule CHL1 that is involved in neurite outgrowth. [J Biol Chem] Full Article

Triptolide Inhibits Amyloid-β Production and Protects Neural Cells by Inhibiting CXCR2 Activity
Triptolide protects neurons from inflammation-mediated damage. Researchers showed for the first time that triptolide inhibited the expression of CXCR2 and presenilin in a neuroblastoma cell line, SHSY5Ysw. [J Alzheimers Dis] Abstract

Involvement of NOS3 in RA-Induced Neural Differentiation of Human NT2/D1 Cells
Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in neurogenesis as a regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation. Investigators used an in vitro model of RA-induced neural differentiation of NT2 cells to examine which of the three NO-synthesizing enzymes is involved in this process. The results revealed a transient induction of NOS3 (nitric oxide synthase) during the time course of the RA treatment. [J Neurosci Res] Abstract

Effects of the Glucagon-Like Polypeptide-1 Analogue (Val⁸)GLP-1 on Learning, Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Neurogenesis in the C57B/16 Mouse Brain
Researchers demonstrated that (Val8)GLP-1 is safe in a range of doses, crosses the blood brain barrier and has potentially beneficial effects in the CNS by enhancing neurogenesis. [Brain Res]
Abstract | Press Release

Neurocognitive Function after Radiotherapy for Paediatric Brain Tumors
This review reports on the underlying mechanisms and clinical consequences of cranial radiation therapy-induced neurocognitive damage in survivors of paediatric brain tumours. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract

Neural Stem Cells: Therapeutic Potential for Neurodegenerative Diseases
This review discusses neural stem cells from specific brain areas or developed from progenitors of different sources as a therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases. [Br Med Bull] Abstract

Signaling Mechanisms Regulating Adult Neural Stem Cells and Neurogenesis
This review highlights the current understanding of signaling mechanisms, growth and neurotrophic factors, bone morphogenetic proteins, neurotransmitters, transcription factors, and epigenetic modulators, and crosstalk between these signaling pathways in the regulation of adult neurogenesis. [Biochim Biophys Acta-Gen Subj] Abstract

StemCells, Inc. Awarded $20 Million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease Program
StemCells, Inc. announced that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved an award to the company for up to $20 million under CIRM’s Disease Team Therapy Development Award program. The award is to fund preclinical development of StemCells’ proprietary HuCNS-SC® product candidate in Alzheimer’s disease over a maximum four-year period, with the goal of filing an investigational new drug application for a clinical trial in that time. [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

Neurobiologist Rodal Wins New Innovator Award
Rodal is one of the 51 National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator award recipients for 2012. The awards are given to researchers to pursue visionary science that exhibits the potential to transform scientific fields and speed the translation of research into improved health. [Brandeis University] Press Release

State Stem Cell Research Funding Agency Awards $37.3 Million to Aid UC Irvine Efforts
Efforts to begin human clinical trials using stem cells to treat Alzheimer’s disease and retinitis pigmentosa received a $37.3 million boost from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. University of California (UC) Irvine scientists will be part of two research teams garnering California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Disease Team Therapy Development Awards, which are designed to accelerate collaborative translational research leading to human clinical trials. [University of California, Irvine] Press Release

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NEW 9^th Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics Conference
October 24-26, 2012
Philadelphia, United States

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Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Manager – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Adult Neural Stem Cell Research (Cleveland Clinic)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurodegeneration Molecular Cell Biology (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurobiology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience and Neurology/Neuro-Cardiology (Focus Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Pathophysiology of Brain Tumors (UMR 6301 ISTCT)

Research Associate – Quality Assurance (University of California)

Faculty Member – Pediatric Neuroscience (The University of New Mexico)

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