Neural Cell News Volume 7.39 | Oct 2 2013

Targeting Sonic Hedgehog-Associated Medulloblastoma through Inhibition of Aurora and Polo-Like Kinases
Researchers showed that CD15⁺ cells progress more rapidly through the cell cycle than CD15⁻ cells and contain an increased proportion of cells in G₂-M, suggesting that they might be vulnerable to inhibitors of this phase. Indeed, exposure of tumor cells to inhibitors of Aurora kinase and Polo-like kinases, key regulators o- G₂-M, induces cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and enhanced sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Inhibition of Monocarboxylate Transporter-4 Depletes Stem-Like Glioblastoma Cells and Inhibits Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Transcriptional Response in a Lactate-Independent Manner
To test the requirement for monocarboxylate transporter-4 (MCT4) in vitro, researchers transduced neurospheres with lentiviruses encoding short-hairpin RNAs against MCT4, resulting in growth inhibition of 50-80% under hypoxia in two lines. MCT4 knockdown was associated with a decreased percentage of cells expressing the stem-cell marker CD133 and increased apoptotic fraction. [Oncogene] Abstract

Pax6 Mediates ß-Catenin Signaling for Self-Renewal and Neurogenesis by Neocortical Radial Glial Stem Cells
Investigators showed that genetic ablation of ß-catenin with hGFAP-Cre mice inhibits neocortical formation by disrupting radial glial development. [Stem Cells] Abstract

cAMP Promotes the Differentiation of Neural Progenitor Cells In Vitro via Modulation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels
Scientists investigated the role of Ca²⁺ and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the differentiation of neural progenitor cells extracted from the subventricular zone of E14.5 rat embryos. Patch clamp recordings revealed that increasing cAMP-signaling with Forskolin or IBMX significantly facilitated neuronal functional maturation. [Front Cell Neurosci] Abstract

Thymoquinone Protects Cultured Hippocampal and Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Neurons against α-Synuclein-Induced Synapse Damage
Researchers report that α-synuclein decreased the level of synaptophysin, a protein used as an indicator of synaptic density, in cultured hippocampal and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. [Neurosci Lett] Abstract

Mechanisms of Anti-inflammatory Property of Conserved Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor: Inhibition of JNK Signaling in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Microglia
Scientists explored the hypothesis that conserved dopamine neurotrophic factor, a secretory neurotrophic factor, may provide a novel therapy for associated with neuroinflammation related to microglia. [J Mol Neurosci] Abstract

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) Facilitates Differentiation of Adult Dorsal Root Ganglia-Derived Neural Stem Cells toward Schwann Cells by Binding to FGFR-1 through MAPK/ERK Activation
Considerable research has been devoted to unraveling the regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation. The responses of NSCs to various differentiation-inducing stimuli, however, are still difficult to estimate. Researchers aimed to search for a potent growth factor that was able to effectively induce differentiation of NSCs toward Schwann cells. [J Mol Neurosci] Abstract

Dendritic Glutamate Receptor mRNAs Show Contingent Local Hotspot-Dependent Translational Dynamics
Scientists showed that the protein translational activities of two dendritically localized mRNAs are spatiotemporally complex but constrained by the translational hotspots in which they are colocalized. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Direct Comparison of Autologous and Allogeneic Transplantation of iPSC-Derived Neural Cells in the Brain of a Nonhuman Primate
Using nonhuman primates, researchers found that the autologous transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons elicited only a minimal immune response in the brain. [Stem Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Microglia Actions in Alzheimer’s Disease
The identification of microglia-associated, neurological disease-causing mutations in patients, combined with studies in mouse models has highlighted microglia, the brain’s intrinsic myeloid cells, as key modulators of pathogenesis and disease progression in neurodegenerative diseases. [Acta Neuropathol] Abstract

Cell-Based Reparative Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
The strong rationale for cell-based therapy in multiple sclerosis is based on the ability of stem and precursor cells of neural and mesenchymal origin to attenuate neuroinflammation, to facilitate endogenous repair processes, and to participate directly in remyelination, if directed towards a myelin-forming fate. [Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep] Abstract

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

National Cancer Institute Awards $48.6 Million Grant to MD Anderson
Broad, deep and outstanding research in cancer science, treatment and prevention have earned The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center a $48.6-million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute and an “exceptional” ranking, the highest possible, from the National Cancer Institute’s extensive peer-review process. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.