Neural Cell News Volume 6.41 | Oct 17 2012

Elfn1 Regulates Target-Specific Release Probability at CA1-Interneuron Synapses
The authors showed that the extracellular leucine-rich repeat fibronectin containing 1 (Elfn1) protein is selectively expressed by oriens-lacunosum molecular (OLM) interneurons and regulates presynaptic release probability to direct the formation of highly facilitating Pyramidal-OLM synapses. [Science] Abstract

Integrated Culture and Purification of Rat Schwann Cells from Freshly Isolated Adult Tissue
Investigators described a simple, rapid and highly selective protocol for the primary culture of Schwann cells in vitro from freshly dissociated adult rat nerve. [Nat Protoc] Abstract | Press Release

Human Neural Stem Cells Induce Functional Myelination in Mice with Severe Dysmyelination
Researchers found that transplanted human neural stem cells generated functional myelin in the central nervous system, even in animals with severe symptomatic hypomyelination, suggesting that this strategy may be useful for treating dysmyelinating diseases. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Neural Stem Cell Engraftment and Myelination in the Human Brain
A one-year, open-label phase-I study was undertaken to evaluate safety and to detect evidence of myelin formation after human central nervous system stem cell (HuCNS-SC) transplantation. Allogeneic HuCNS-SCs were surgically implanted into the frontal lobe white matter in four male subjects with an early-onset severe form of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

The Positional Identity of Mouse ES Cell-Generated Neurons Is Affected by BMP Signaling
Researchers investigated the effects of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in determining the positional identity of neurons generated in vitro from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. [Cell Mol Life Sci]
Full Article

Targeted Disruption in Mice of a Neural Stem Cell-Maintaining, KRAB-Zn Finger-Encoding Gene that Has Rapidly Evolved in the Human Lineage
Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of different human tissues indicated that KRAB-Zn finger-encoding gene (M003-A06) expression is enriched in the human fetal brain in addition to the fetal heart. Furthermore, analysis with use of immunofluorescence staining, neurosphere culturing and Western blotting indicated that the mouse ortholog of M003-A06 is expressed mainly in embryonic stem cells and fetal as well as adult neural stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Functional Assessment of the Acute Local and Distal Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells after Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers hypothesized that acute transplantation of human fetal neural stem cells both locally at the injury site as well as distally via intrathecal injection would lead to improved functional recovery compared with controls. [Spine J] Abstract

Ginsenoside Rg1 Facilitates Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells via GR-Dependent Signaling Pathway
The authors explored the effect of Rg1 on promoting differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells towards the neuronal lineage and its potential role in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation. [Neurochem Int] Abstract

Enhancement of Neurite Outgrowth in Neuron Cancer Stem Cells by Growth on 3-D Collagen Scaffolds
Scientists investigated proliferation and differentiation of neuron cancer stem cells on a 3-D porous collagen scaffold that mimics the natural extracellular matrix. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Newborn Cortical Neurons: Only for Neonates?
The authors review evidence of the existence, origin, migration, and integration of neurons into the adult and neonatal cerebral cortex. They emphasized that neurogenesis occurs in the neonatal cortex and that neural stem cells are present into adulthood; it is possible that these progenitors are dormant, but they may be reactivated, for example, following injury. [Trends Neurosci] Abstract

Role of Neural Precursor Cells in Promoting Repair following Stroke
Investigators discuss the current state of the stem cell-based approaches with a focus on endogenous repair to treat the stroke injured brain. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

FDA Approves Neuralstem to Treat Second Cohort in NSI-189 Phase Ib Trial in Major Depressive Disorder
Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has begun dosing the second cohort of patients in its ongoing phase Ib to test the safety of NSI-189 in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). NSI-189 is a proprietary new chemical entity that stimulates new neuron growth in the hippocampus, a region of the brain believed to be implicated in MDD, as well as other diseases and conditions such as: chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder. [Neuralstem, Inc.] Press Release

UC Irvine Opens Clinical Trial of Novel Treatment for Brain Cancer
UC Irvine doctors are enrolling patients with the deadly brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme in a clinical trial of a vaccine that may prevent the cancer’s return or spread after surgery. [University of California, Irvine] Press Release

StemCells, Inc. Launches Four New Human Neural Stem Cell Kits Under SC Proven(R) Brand
StemCells, Inc. announced the launch of four new SC Proven human neural stem cell (NSC) kits for use in neuroscience research. Each kit will contain high purity, multipotent NSCs derived from a different area of the human central nervous system, and will provide researchers with a reproducible and scalable serum-free platform with which to perform a broad range of assays. [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

Intellect Neurosciences Files Lawsuit against Pharmaceutical Licensee for Non Payment of $2 Million Milestone
Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. announced it has filed a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court against a top tier global pharmaceutical company for breach of the licensing agreement between the parties. [Intellect Neurosciences, Inc.] Press Release

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)

NEW 7^th Annual Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference
February 10-12, 2013 
San Francisco, United States

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

Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

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

Product Manager – Hematopoietic (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurobiology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

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)

Postdoctoral Position(s) – Cell Biology, Biophysics and Neurobiology (University of Missouri, Kansas City)

Postdoctoral Position – Sensory Neuron Morphogenesis (MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 55,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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.