Trithorax Maintains the Functional Heterogeneity of Neural Stem Cells through the Transcription Factor Buttonhead The authors report that Trithorax (Trx) actively maintains the heterogeneity of neural stem cells (neuroblasts) in the developing Drosophila larval brain. trx mutant type II neuroblasts gradually adopt a type I neuroblast functional identity, losing the competence to generate intermediate neural progenitors and directly generating differentiated cells. [eLife] Abstract | Full Article Microfluidic Control of Axonal Guidance Scientists report direct evidence of fluid flow influencing axonal migration, producing turning angles of up to 90°. This method of flow-based guidance was successfully used to fasciculate one advancing axon onto another, showcasing the potential of this technique to be used for the formation of in vitro neuronal circuits. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release KLF9 Inhibits Glioblastoma Stemness through Global Transcription Repression and Integrin-α6 Inhibition Investigators established for the first time a genome-wide map of Krüppel-like factor-9 (KLF9)-regulated targets in human glioblastoma stem-like cells, and show that KLF9 functions as a transcriptional repressor and thereby regulates multiple signaling pathways involved in oncogenesis and stem cell regulation. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article Caspr4 Interaction with LNX2 Modulates the Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation of Mouse Neural Progenitor Cells The authors show an essential role of contactin associated protein 4 (Caspr4) in neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Neuronal differentiation is increased by overexpression of Caspr4, but decreased by knocking-down of Caspr4 in cultured mouse NPCs. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Radiation-Induced Glioblastoma Signaling Cascade Regulates Viability, Apoptosis and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells (NSC) Investigators evaluated the effects of irradiated glioblastoma cells on viability, proliferation and differentiation potential of non-irradiated NSC through radiation-induced signaling cascades. [Apoptosis] Abstract The Autism Spectrum Disorders Stem Cell Resource at Children’s Hospital of Orange County: Implications for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery The authors show that both normal and autism spectrum disorder-specific induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated toward a neural stem cell phenotype and terminally differentiated into action-potential firing neurons and glia. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract Adult Limbal Neurosphere Cells: A Potential Autologous Cell Resource for Retinal Cell Generation Scientists investigated whether mouse and human limbal neurosphere cells could differentiate towards a retinal lineage both in vivo and in vitro following exposure to a developing retinal microenvironment. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release Inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase Induces Hybrid Cell Death and Enhanced Sensitivity to Chemotherapy in Human Glioblastoma Cells Researchers tested the hypothesis that inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase causes a mixed or hybrid form of concurrent apoptosis and necrosis and should therefore enhance anti-cancer effects of chemotherapy on glioblastoma cells. [BMC Cancer] Full Article Visualization and Correction of Automated Segmentation, Tracking and Lineaging from 5-D Stem Cell Image Sequences Investigators present an application that integrates visualization and quantitative analysis of 5-D (x, y, z, t, channel) and large montage confocal fluorescence microscopy images. The image sequences show stem cells together with blood vessels, enabling quantification of the dynamic behaviors of stem cells in relation to their vascular niche, with applications in developmental and cancer biology. [BMC Bioinformatics] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release |