PTP1B Is an Effector of Activin Signaling and Regulates Neural Specification of Embryonic Stem Cells Researchers report a role for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in Activin-mediated early fate decisions during ESC differentiation and show that PTP1B acts as an effector of the Activin pathway to specify mesendodermal or neural fate. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract BECN1/Beclin1 Is Recruited into Lipid Rafts by Prion to Activate Autophagy in Response to Amyloid β 42 Scientists showed that prion protein mediates amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42)-induced autophagy activation through its interaction with BECN1. Treatment with Aβ42 enhanced autophagy flux in neuronal cells. [Autophagy] Abstract Neuroprotective Sirtuin Ratio Reversed by ApoE4 Scientists showed that, although both apolipoprotein E ε4 allele-3 (ApoE3) and ApoE4 associate with amyloid precursor protein (APP) with nanomolar affinities, only ApoE4 significantly reduces the ratio of soluble amyloid precursor protein alpha to Aβ, reduces Sirtuin T1 (SirT1) expression, resulting in markedly differing ratios of neuroprotective SirT1 to neurotoxic SirT2, triggers Tau phosphorylation and APP phosphorylation and induces programmed cell death. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Neuronal Activity Regulates Astrocytic Nrf2 Signaling Researchers report that activity of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in the brain is fine-tuned through a regulatory loop between neurons and astrocytes: elevated neuronal activity leads to secretion of glutamate and other soluble factors, which activate the astrocytic Nrf2 pathway through a signaling cascade that involves group I metabotropic glutamate receptors and intracellular Ca2+. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Silencing of the miR-17~92 Cluster Family Inhibits Medulloblastoma Progression Scientists assessed the therapeutic potential of 8-mer seed-targeting LNA-modified antimiR oligonucleotides, termed tiny LNAs, that inhibit microRNA seed families expressed by miR-17~92 and miR-106b~25 in two mouse models of Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma. [Cancer Res] Abstract Generation of Highly Purified Neural Stem Cells from Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Sox1 Activation Investigators established a three-step neural stem cell (NSC) inducing protocol, in which human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were induced to generate NSCs with high purity after being sequentially cultured in pre-inducing medium, N2B27 medium and N2B27 medium supplement with bFGF and EGF. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract NOTCH3 Is a Prognostic Factor That Promotes Glioma Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion via Activation of CCND1 and EGFR NOTCH receptors (NOTCH1-4) are key positive regulators of cell-cell interactions, angiogenesis, cell adhesion and stem cell niche development which have been shown to play critical roles in several human cancers. Scientists aimed to determine the molecular roles of NOTCH3 in glioma pathogenesis and aggressiveness. [PLoS One] Full Article 1H NMR Detects Different Metabolic Profiles in Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells Spectra of two glioblastoma stem-like cell lines, labeled 1 and 83, from tumors close to the subventricular zone of the temporal lobe were studied in detail and compared with those of neural stem/progenitor cells from the adult olfactory bulb and of the T98G glioblastoma cell line. [NMR Biomed] Abstract The Beneficial Effect of Encapsulated Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Alginate Hydrogel on Neural Differentiation Investigators evaluated the effect of alginate hydrogel on the viability and neural differentiation potential of induced human adipose-derived stem cells. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract mTORC1 Targets the Translational Repressor 4E-BP2, but Not S6 Kinase 1/2, to Regulate Neural Stem Cell Self-Renewal In Vivo Researchers found that genetically decreasing mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity in neonatal neural stem cells prevented their differentiation, resulting in reduced lineage expansion and aborted neuron production. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release |