Neural Cell News Volume 8.05 | Feb 12 2014

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    Neural Cell News 8.05 February 12, 2014

    Neural Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Toxin from Brain Cells Triggers Neuron Loss in Human ALS Model
    In most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a toxin released by cells that normally nurture neurons in the brain and spinal cord can trigger loss of the nerve cells affected in the disease, researchers reported. [Press release from Columbia University Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Neuron] Press Release | Abstract
    Happy Neurons lead to Happy Neuroscientists: NeuroCult SM Primary Neuronal Culture Kits

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    Astrocyte-Derived Endothelin-1 Inhibits Remyelination through Notch Activation
    Investigators identified an endogenous inhibitor of remyelination, Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is highly expressed in reactive astrocytes of demyelinated lesions. Using both gain- and loss-of-function approaches, they demonstrated that ET-1 drastically reduces the rate of remyelination. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release

    Axonal Transport of TDP-43 mRNA Granules Is Impaired by ALS-Causing Mutations
    The authors showed that TDP-43 forms cytoplasmic mRNP granules that undergo bidirectional, microtubule-dependent transport in neurons in vitro and in vivo and facilitate delivery of target mRNA to distal neuronal compartments. [Neuron] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

    Stress and Glucocorticoids Promote Oligodendrogenesis in the Adult Hippocampus
    Investigators found that immobilization stress decreased neurogenesis and increased oligodendrogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat hippocampus and that injections of the rat glucocorticoid stress hormone corticosterone were sufficient to replicate this effect. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

    Positive Feedback Loop between Sox2 and Sox6 Inhibits Neuronal Differentiation in the Developing Central Nervous System
    Gain- and loss-of-function assays indicate that Sox6 in turn is required for the maintenance of Sox2 expression, suggesting that a positive feedback loop, which functions to inhibit premature neuronal differentiation, exists between the two transcription factors. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    IRF4 Is a Novel Mediator for Neuronal Survival in Ischemic Stroke
    Researchers have shown that the interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4)-serum response factor axis is a novel signaling pathway critical for neuronal survival in the setting of ischemic stroke. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

    Nrf2 Regulates Neurogenesis and Protects Neural Progenitor Cells against Aβ Toxicity
    Results suggest that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) is essential for neuronal differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs), regulates injury-induced neurogenesis and provides protection against amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced NPC toxicity. [Stem Cells] Abstract

    Bax Interacting Factor-1 Promotes Survival and Mitochondrial Elongation in Neurons
    Previous studies in non-neuronal cells have shown that Bax-interacting factor 1 (Bif-1) is proapoptotic and promotes mitochondrial fragmentation. However, the role of Bif-1 in postmitotic neurons has not been investigated. In contrast to non-neuronal cells, researchers report that in neurons Bif-1 promotes viability and mitochondrial elongation. [J Neurosci] Abstract

    Neu3 Sialidase-Mediated Ganglioside Conversion Is Necessary for Axon Regeneration and Is Blocked in CNS Axons
    Researchers showed that activation of Neu3 sialidase, also known as Neuraminidase-3, causing conversion of GD1a and GT1b to GM1 ganglioside, is an essential step in regeneration occurring in PNS (sensory) but not CNS (retinal) axons in adult rat. [J Neurosci] Abstract

    Kappe Neurons, a Novel Population of Olfactory Sensory Neurons
    Kappe neurons constitute the fourth type of olfactory sensory neurons reported in teleost fishes and their existence suggests that encoding of olfactory stimuli may require a higher complexity than hitherto assumed already in the peripheral olfactory system. [Sci Rep] Full Article

    Transplantation of Photoreceptors Derived from Human Müller Glia Restore Rod Function in the P23H Rat
    Researchers aimed to differentiate human Müller glia with stem cell characteristics (hMSCs) into photoreceptor cells by stimulation with growth and differentiation factors in vitro to upregulate gene and protein expression of CRX, NR2E3, and rhodopsin and various phototransduction markers associated with rod photoreceptor development and function and to examine the effect of subretinal transplantation of these cells into the P23H rat, a model of primary photoreceptor degeneration. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

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    Efficiently Expand hPSC-Derived NPCs Without Loss of Multipotency: STEMdiff™ Neural Progenitor Medium

     
    REVIEWS
    Cell-to-Cell Transmission of Pathogenic Proteins in Neurodegenerative Diseases
    Recent studies have strongly implicated cell-to-cell transmission of misfolded proteins as a common mechanism for the onset and progression of various neurodegenerative disorders. Although there are many more questions to be answered, these studies have opened up new avenues for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative disorders. [Nat Med] Abstract

    Forkhead Pathway in the Control of Adult Neurogenesis
    This review aims at discussing recent advances in the molecular control of adult neurogenesis, focusing more particularly on the role of Fox proteins. [Stem Cells] Full Article

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

    Translational CNS Summit 2014

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Grants Support Immunotherapy-Based Treatment for Childhood Cancer
    Dr. William Decker and Dr. Cliona Rooney are two of a dozen researchers nationwide to earn Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s new Reach Awards. Decker’s research focuses on the development of a novel immunotherapeutic treatment approach for a type of brain cancer called Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor. Rooney’s research also involves an immunotherapy-based approach. The goal is to develop potent immune-based therapies for high-risk neuroblastoma. [Baylor College of Medicine] Press Release

    City of Hope Researcher Receives Five Grants Totaling $450,000 to Fight Pediatric Brain Tumors
    Despite continual advances in the treatment of brain tumors, infants and children diagnosed with medulloblastoma – a fast-growing tumor in the cerebellum portion of the brain – still face significant challenges overcoming this disease. One particularly tricky obstacle is the blood-brain barrier, which prevents cancer drugs from passing into the brain and attacking the tumor. Margarita Gutova, M.D. may have found a way to bypass that hurdle – using neural stem cells. [Newswise, Inc] Press Release | Video

    StemCells, Inc. Announces Completion of the First of Two Cohorts in Its Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Trial
    StemCells, Inc. announced that it has completed enrollment of the first of two planned patient cohorts in the company’s clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC® product candidate (purified human neural stem cells) for dry age-related macular degeneration. This cohort consisted of eight subjects, four of whom each received 200,000 cells and four of whom each received 1,000,000 cells. [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

    Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Targets Brain, Pediatric Cancers with $1 Million in New Grants
    Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy is redoubling its efforts to treat and combat cancers in the New Year, and announces $1 million in recent grants. [Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC] Press Release

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    POLICY NEWS
    Judges Side with FDA on Stem Cells
    The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that culturing a patient’s stem cells for therapeutic use falls under the aegis of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA has said therapeutic stem cells should be regulated as drugs. [TheScientist] Editorial | Court Ruling

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    EVENTS
    NEW Fourth Annual Advanced Therapies Summit 2014
    March 12-13, 2014
    Turin, Italy

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Postdoctoral Position – Modeling Neurodevelopmental Disorders with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (Università di Trento)

    NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (VIB Vesalius Research Center Belgium)

    PhD Studentship – Huntington’s Disease Research (Cardiff University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Developmental Neurobiology (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience (Harvard Medical School)

    Postdoctoral Position – RNA Metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière)

    Postdoctoral Research Position – Electrophysiological Properties of Human Stem-Cell Derived Neurons (University of Szeged)

    Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience/Ischemic Stroke Research (Tulane University)

    Postdoctoral Position – Neuroimaging (BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center)


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