Using a robust, patient-derived stem cell model of parkinson’s disease allowing comparison of A53T α-synuclein (α-syn) mutant cells and isogenic mutation-corrected controls, researchers identified mitochondrial toxin-induced perturbations in A53T α-syn A9 DA neurons. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Sleep Spindles Are Generated in the Absence of T-Type Calcium Channel-Mediated Low-Threshold Burst Firing of Thalamocortical Neurons
The theory that low-threshold burst firing mediated by T-type calcium channels in thalamocortical neurons is the key component for sleep spindles, has been accepted as dogma and appears throughout the literature. In this study, however, in vivo and in vitro evidence showed that sleep spindles are generated normally in the absence of T-type channels and burst firing in thalamocortical neurons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract
Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 and Protein Kinase HIPK2 Cooperate to Promote Cortical Neurogenesis by Suppressing Groucho/TLE:Hes1-Mediated Inhibition of Neuronal Differentiation
Researchers showed that prolyl isomerase peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) and homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) are expressed in cortical neural progenitor cells and form a complex that interacts with the Gro/TLE1:Hes1 complex. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract
Schwann Cells But Not Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Inhibit CNS Myelination via the Secretion of Connective Tissue Growth Factor
Using central nervous system (CNS) mixed myelinating rat cultures plated on to a monolayer of astrocytes, researchers demonstrated that Schwann cells, but not olfactory ensheathing cells, secrete a heat labile factor(s) that inhibits oligodendrocyte myelination. [J Neurosci] Abstract
A Bi-Modal Function of Wnt Signaling Directs an FGF Activity Gradient to Spatially Regulate Neuronal Differentiation in the Midbrain
Scientists employed a combination of genetic and pharmacological manipulations in zebrafish to show that during neurogenesis fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activity occurs as a gradient along the anterior-posterior axis of the dorsal midbrain and directs spatially dynamic expression of the Hairy gene her5. [Development] Abstract
Amyloid-β1-42 Oligomer Accelerates Senescence in Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells via Formylpeptide Receptor 2
Investigators showed that amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ42) oligomer triggers senescent phenotype of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vitro. Oligomerized Aβ42 induced the production of senescence-associated biomarkers p16 and senescence-associated β-galactosidase in adult mouse hippocampal NSPCs, as well as inhibited cells proliferation and differentiation.[Cell Death Dis] Full Article
Fast Targeted Gene Transfection and Optogenetic Modification of Single Neurons Using Femtosecond Laser Irradiation
A prevailing problem in neuroscience is the fast and targeted delivery of DNA into selected neurons. The development of an appropriate methodology would enable the transfection of multiple genes into the same cell or different genes into different neighboring cells as well as rapid cell selective functionalization of neurons. The authors showed that optimized femtosecond optical transfection fulfills these requirements. [Sci Rep] Full Article
Neuroimmmune Interactions of Cannabinoids in Neurogenesis: Focus on Interleukin-1β Signaling
The authors investigated the role of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the control of neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and in the release of immunomodulators [IL-1β and IL-1Ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist)] that control NSC fate decisions. [Biochem Soc Trans] Abstract