Neural Cell News Volume 8.37 | Sep 24 2014

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    Neural Cell News 8.37 September 24, 2014

    Neural Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Science News | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Researchers Reveal Pathway that Contributes to Alzheimer’s Disease
    Using a new mouse model, investigators discovered the key defect that leads to suppressed Wnt signaling in Alzheimer’s. They found that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is deficient, and that LRP6 regulates both production of amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients, and communication between neurons. [Press release from Mayo Clinic discussing online prepublication in Neuron] Press Release | Abstract
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    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    Single Rodent Mesohabenular Axons Release Glutamate and GABA
    Investigators show that the majority of rat and mouse ventral tegmental area neurons innervating the lateral habenula coexpress markers for both glutamate and GABA signaling. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

    Extracellular Vesicles from Neural Stem Cells Transfer IFN-γ via Ifngr1 to Activate Stat1 Signaling in Target Cells
    Researchers defined a mechanism of cellular signaling by which neural stem/precursor cells communicate with the microenvironment via extracellular vesicles, and elucidated its molecular signature and function. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

    Selective Filtering Defect at the Axon Initial Segment in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Models
    Researchers report that increased miR-342-5p down-regulates the expression of ankyrin G (AnkG), a protein known to play a critical role in establishing selective filtering machinery at the axon initial segment (AIS). Diminished AnkG expression leads to defective AIS filtering in cultured hippocampal neurons from Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, as monitored by selective exclusion of large macromolecules from the axons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Ultradian Corticosterone Pulses Balance Glutamatergic Transmission and Synaptic Plasticity
    By using high-resolution imaging and electrophysiological approaches, scientists report that a single pulse of corticosterone to hippocampal networks causes synaptic enrichment of glutamate receptors and increased responses to spontaneously released glutamatergic vesicles, collectively abrogating the ability to subsequently induce synaptic long-term potentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

    Survivin as a Therapeutic Target in Sonic Hedgehog-Driven Medulloblastoma
    Investigators hypothesized that Survivin may have a critical role in growth and survival of medulloblastoma (MB) cells and that targeting it may enhance MB therapy. Genetic deletion of survivin in patched mutant tumor cells significantly inhibited proliferation and caused cell cycle arrest. [Oncogene] Abstract

    Casein Kinase 2α Regulates Glioblastoma Brain Tumor-Initiating Cell Growth through the β-Catenin Pathway
    Investigators discovered that loss of casein kinase 2α activity reduced the sphere-forming capacity of brain tumor-initiating cells and decreased numerous glioblastoma stem cell markers. [Oncogene] Abstract

    The Scaffold Protein Nde1 Safeguards the Brain Genome during S Phase of Early Neural Progenitor Differentiation
    Researchers show a novel function for NDE1, whose mutations cause brain developmental disorders, in safeguarding the genome through S phase during early steps of neural progenitor fate restrictive differentiation. [eLife] Full Article

    Reactive Neurogenesis in Response to Naturally Occurring Apoptosis in an Adult Brain
    Investigators used a model of naturally occurring neural degradation in a neural circuit that controls song behavior in Gambel’s white-crowned sparrows and examined the temporal dynamics between neuronal birth and death. They show that inhibiting caspase-mediated apoptosis in the high vocal center decreased neural stem-cell proliferation in the ventricular zone. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release

    The Effect of Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 in the Migration of Neural Stem Cells
    Recently, SDF-1/CXCR4 axis was shown to be responsible for in cell migration and differentiation during the neural development stage and involved in the pathophysiological process of neurological disorders. Scientists investigated the effect of SDF-1 in migration of neural stem cells in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Biochem Biophys] Abstract

    Happy Neurons lead to Happy Neuroscientists: NeuroCult SM Primary Neuronal Culture Kits

     
    REVIEWS
    Cation-Chloride Cotransporters in Neuronal Development, Plasticity and Disease
    In recent years, it has become evident that one family of ion transporters, cation-chloride cotransporters, and in particular K+-Cl cotransporter 2, have seminal roles in shaping GABAergic signaling and neuronal connectivity. Studying the functions of these transporters may lead to major paradigm shifts in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain development and plasticity in health and disease. [Nat Rev Neurosci] Abstract

    Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field.

     
    SCIENCE NEWS
    Neuralstem ALS Investigator Presents Long-Term Follow Up Phase I Data
    Neuralstem, Inc. presented long-term follow up data on the Phase I trial testing NSI-566 human neural stem cells in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). [Press release from Neuralstem, Inc. discussing research presented at the 10th Annual Symposium on ALS of the Foundation André-Delambre, Montréal] Press Release

    MS Drug Candidate Shows New Promise
    According to the results from a six-month Phase II study of 258 multiple sclerosis patients, the drug candidate RPC1063 reduced the annualized relapse rate of participants with multiple sclerosis by up to 53 percent compared with placebo. [The Scripps Research Institute (Newswise, Inc.)] Press Release

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    INDUSTRY NEWS
    UW-Madison Team Developing ‘Tissue Chip’ to Screen Neurological Toxins
    A multidisciplinary team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research is creating a faster, more affordable way to screen for neural toxins, helping flag chemicals that may harm human development. The team will receive approximately $7 million from the National Institutes of Health over the three-year project. [University of Wisconsin-Madison] Press Release

    Broach Foundation Commits $5 Million to Brain Cancer Research
    The Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research has made a $5 million commitment to support glioblastoma multiforme research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

    NW Bio’s Cancer Vaccine Is the First Drug to Be Designated by UK Authorities as a “Promising Innovative Medicine” (PIM)
    Northwest Biotherapeutics announced that its DCVax-L is the first product to receive formal designation as a PIM under the new “Early Access to Medicines Scheme.” The PIM designation for DCVax-L covers all malignant gliomas and would include both newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas. [Northwest Biotherapeutics] Press Release

    Acorda Therapeutics to Acquire Civitas Therapeutics
    Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire Civitas Therapeutics for $525 million in cash. Acorda will obtain worldwide rights to CVT-301, a Phase III treatment candidate for OFF episodes of Parkinson’s disease. [Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

     
    POLICY NEWS
    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)

     
    EVENTS
    NEW 5th International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer (ICSCC-2014): Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis
    November 8-10, 2014
    New Delhi, India

    NEW CellTech India 2015
    March 2-3, 2015
    Bangalore, India

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Epigenetic Regulation of Glioma Stem Cells Compared to Normal Neural Stem Cells (Queen Mary University of London)

    Epilepsy Foundation Postdoctoral Fellows (Pfizer Neusentis)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Tissue Engineering & Spinal Cord Injury (Nanyang Technological University)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Developmental Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (North Carolina College of Veterinary Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Neurodegeneration (University of Copenhagen)

    Postdoctoral Candidate – Dynamic Organization of Synapses (INSERM)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience (Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (The University of Texas Medical School At Houston)

    Postdoctoral Positions – The Development of Human Cortical Neurons and Synapses (Free University of Brussels)

    Postdoctoral Fellowship (Medical University of South Carolina)

    Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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