Neural Cell News Volume 7.22 | Jun 5 2013

Abnormal Neuronal Differentiation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Hair Follicle-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells of Schizophrenia Patients
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from three schizophrenia patients and from two controls were reprogrammed from hair follicle keratinocytes, because of their accessibility and common ectodermal origin with neurons. iPSCs were differentiated into Pax6⁺/Nestin⁺ neural precursors and then further differentiated into β3-Tubulin⁺/tyrosine hydroxylase⁺/DAT⁺ dopaminergic neurons. [Mol Psychiatr] Abstract

Neurulation and Neurite Extension Require the Zinc Transporter ZIP12 (slc39a12)
Scientists confirmed that ZIP12 is a Zn²⁺ uptake transporter with a conserved pattern of high expression in the mouse and Xenopus nervous system. Mouse neurons and Neuro-2a cells produce fewer and shorter neurites after ZIP12 knockdown without affecting cell viability. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Cytomegalovirus Contributes to Glioblastoma in the Context of Tumor Suppressor Mutations
To study the controversial role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in glioblastoma, researchers assessed the effects of murine CMV (MCMV) perinatal infection in a GFAP-cre; Nf1^loxP/+; Trp53^−/+ genetic mouse model of glioma (Mut3 mice). MCMV infection increased phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) levels in neural stem cells (NSC) harvested from Mut3 mice subventricular zone, and, in vivo, there was increased p-STAT3 in NSCs in MCMV-infected compared with control mice. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Ascl1/Mash1 Promotes Brain Oligodendrogenesis during Myelination and Remyelination
Researchers investigated the contribution of Ascl1 to oligodendrocyte development and remyelination in the postnatal cortex. During the neonatal period, Ascl1 expression was detected in progenitors of the cortical subventricular zone and in cortical oligodendrocyte precursor cells. [J Neurosci] Abstract

Recovery from Experimental Parkinsonism by Semaphorin-Guided Axonal Growth of Grafted Dopamine Neurons
The authors asked whether intranigral transplantation of dopamine (DA) neurons, combined with either degradation of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans or with grafts of Semaphorin 3-expressing cells, towards the striatum, is effective in establishing a new nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in rats with unilateral depletion of DA neurons. They found depolarization-induced DA release in dorsal striatum, DA axonal projections from substantia nigra to striatum, and concomitant behavioral improvement in Semaphorin 3-treated animals. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Viral Delivery of Antioxidant Genes as a Therapeutic Strategy in Experimental Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lentiviral vectors expressing either PRDX3 or NRF2 genes were tested in the motor neuronal-like NSC34 cell line, and in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis tissue culture model, NSC34 cells expressing the human SOD1G93A mutation. The NSC34 SOD1G93A cells overexpressing either PRDX3 or NRF2 showed a significant decrease in endogenous oxidation stress levels by 40 and 50% respectively compared with controls, whereas cell survival was increased by 30% in both cases. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Amyloid β Peptides Promote Autophagy-Dependent Differentiation of Mouse Neural Stem Cells
Investigators addressed the role of different amyloid β (Aβ) fragments in neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and investigated whether autophagy is involved in Aβ-induced alterations of neural fate. Their results demonstrated that neuronal and glial-specific protein markers are significantly induced by both Aβ_1-40 and Aβ_1-42. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

Nitric Oxide Inhibits CXCL12 Expression in Neuroinflammation
The influence of nitric oxide (NO) on C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) in the inflamed central nervous system was investigated. Excess expression of inducible NO synthase was inversely correlated to CXCL12 gene expression in spinal cord homogenates of rats immunized to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. NO inhibited gene expression of CXCL12 in astrocytes and endothelial cells in vitro. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Effects of Epidermal Growth Factor and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on the Proliferation and Osteogenic and Neural Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
The authors illustrated that low concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increase the proliferative ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and induce the typical spindle-shaped cell morphology. EGF and bFGF added to medium promoted neural lineage differentiation and impaired the mesodermal differentiation ability of ASCs. [Cell Reprogram] Abstract

Transcriptional Differences between Normal and Glioma-Derived Glial Progenitor Cells Identify a Core Set of Dysregulated Genes
Scientists used A2B5-based sorting to extract tumorigenic glial progenitor cells (GPCs) from human gliomas spanning World Health Organization grades II-IV. Messenger RNA profiling identified a cohort of genes that distinguished A2B5⁺ glioma tumor progenitor cells (TPCs) from A2B5⁺ GPCs isolated from normal white matter. A core set of genes and pathways was substantially dysregulated in A2B5⁺ TPCs, which included the transcription factor SIX1 and its principal cofactors, EYA1 and DACH2. [Cell Rep]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Stem Cells in Retinal Regeneration: Past, Present and Future
The authors review various stem cell-based approaches for treating retinal diseases and discuss future directions and challenges for the field. [Development] Full Article

Aging Stem and Progenitor Cells: Implications for Rejuvenation of the Central Nervous System
The prospect of meaningful rejuvenation of the central nervous system (CNS) has seemed an impossible goal; however, advances in stem cell science are beginning to challenge this assumption. The authors outline these advances with a focus on aging and rejuvenation of key endogenous stem and progenitor cell compartments in the CNS. [Development] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neuroscience field.

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Janssen, J&J Innovation, VIB, KU Leuven and UZ Leuven Join Forces to Combat Neurological Diseases
Stellar, the collaboration between Janssen, J&J Innovation, VIB, KU Leuven and UZ Leuven, has been launched to overcome the inefficiencies in translating basic molecular insights to diagnostics and therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Janssen and Johnson & Johnson Innovation are committing up to 5 million Euros for this project over a five-year period. [Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie]
Press Release

Kinex Announces that the US FDA Allows Their IND to Begin KX02 Clinical Trials
Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA has allowed its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for KX02, Kinex’s dual src/pretubulin inhibitor for the glioblastoma setting. [Kinex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

NeuroDerm Ltd. Awarded $1 Million by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for the Clinical Development of ND0612 for Parkinson’s Disease
NeuroDerm, Ltd. was awarded, for the second time, a grant of $1M by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to support the clinical development of its subcutaneously delivered drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. [NeuroDerm, Ltd.] 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 ICCSCE 2013: International Conference on Cell and Stem Cell Engineering
September 26-27, 2013
Rome, Italy

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Developmental Neurobiology (North Carolina College of Veterinary Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuronal Differentiation and Migration (Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique)

Researcher – Neurobiology/Evolutionary Neural Development (Georg-August University Göttingen)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Assistant or Associate Professor of Neuroscience (University of Virginia)

Research Fellow – Neural Stem Cells/Neurogenesis (Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science)

Postdoctoral Position – Neurobiology (Weizmann Institute of Science)

PhD Opportunity – Role of Fibroblast Growth Factors in the Generation of Neuronal Diversity in the Spinal Cord (University of East Anglia)

Doctoral Studentship – Neural Cell Physiology (CNR-ISMN)

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