Neural Cell News Volume 8.46 | Nov 26 2014

Human Glial Chimeric Mice Reveal Astrocytic Dependence of JC Virus Infection
Engraftment of human glial progenitor cells (GPCs) in normally myelinated and immunodeficient mice resulted in humanized white matter that was chimeric for human astrocytes and GPCs. JC virus (JCV) effectively propagated in these mice, which indicates that astroglial infection is sufficient for JCV spread. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Press Release | Video

​PKM2 Phosphorylates ​MLC2 and Regulates Cytokinesis of Tumor Cells
​Pyruvate kinase M2 (​PKM2)-regulated ​myosin light chain 2 (​MLC2) phosphorylation, which is greatly enhanced by EGF stimulation or ​EGFRvIII, ​K-Ras G12V and ​B-Raf V600E mutant expression, plays a pivotal role in cytokinesis, cell proliferation and brain tumor development. [Nat Commun] Abstract | Press Release

Reduced Synaptic Vesicle Protein Degradation at Lysosomes Curbs TBC1D24/sky-Induced Neurodegeneration
Researchers studied Drosophila melanogaster lacking active TBC1D24/Skywalker, a protein that in humans causes severe neurodegeneration, epilepsy, and DOOR (deafness, onychdystrophy, osteodystrophy, and mental retardation) syndrome, and identified endosome-to-lysosome trafficking as a mechanism for degradation of synaptic vesicle-associated proteins. [J Cell Biol] Abstract | Press Release

NOS1AP, a Protein Implicated in Schizophrenia, Controls Radial Migration of Cortical Neurons
To determine whether nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP) plays a role in cortical patterning, scientists knocked down or co-overexpressed NOS1AP and a GFP or TagRFP reporter in neuronal progenitor cells of the embryonic rat neocortex using in utero electroporation. [Biol Psychiatry] Abstract | Press Release

Suppression of Histone Deacetylation Promotes the Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells towards Neural Progenitor Cells
Researchers demonstrate that suppression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) promoted the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells towards neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Application of HDAC inhibitors increased the expression of neuroectodermal markers and enhanced the neuroectodermal specification once neural differentiation was initiated, thereby leading to more NPC generation. [BMC Biol] Abstract | Full Article

Human Neural Stem Cells Rapidly Ameliorate Symptomatic Inflammation in Early-Stage Ischemic-Reperfusion Cerebral Injury
Scientists tested whether exogenously engrafted human neural stem cells could migrate rapidly and extensively to damaged regions, following transplantation into a neurogenic site where migration cues are already underway during stroke onset, then counteract a number of these pathological processes. [Stem Cell Res]
Abstract | Full Article

Sox2-Mediated Conversion of NG2 Glia into Induced Neurons in the Injured Adult Cerebral Cortex
Investigators show that retrovirus-mediated expression of the transcription factors Sox2 and Ascl1, but strikingly also Sox2 alone, can induce the conversion of genetically fate-mapped NG2 glia into induced doublecortin (DCX)⁺ neurons in the adult mouse cerebral cortex following stab wound injury in vivo. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Editorial

Stem Cell Signature in Glioblastoma: Therapeutic Development for a Moving Target
The author summarizes recent progress in the characterization of the molecular signature in distinct high-grade glioma (HGG) and glioma stem cell (GSC) subtypes and plasticity between different GSC subtypes as well as between GSCs and non-GSCs in HGG tumors. [J Neurosurg] Full Article

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

Autism Gene Needed for Growth of Neurons during Gestation
Mutations in one of the strongest autism candidate genes may block the proliferation of neurons during development. [Press release from Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative discussing research presented at Neuroscience 2014, Washington, DC] Press Release

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors May Work in Brain Cancers
New evidence that immune checkpoint inhibitors may work in glioblastoma and brain metastases was presented. [Press release from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) discussing research presented at the ESMO Symposium on Immuno-Oncology 2014, Geneva] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Looking for ALDH⁺ cancer stem cells? Watch a video to see how ALDEFLUOR™ can help.

Mount Sinai Researchers Awarded $1 Million Grant to Find New Stem Cell Therapies for Vision Recovery
The National Eye Institute has awarded researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a five-year grant that will support an effort to re-create a patient’s ocular stem cells and restore vision in those blinded by corneal disease. [Mount Sinai Medical Center (Newswise, Inc.)] Press Release

Historic Brain Tumor Research Partnership Launched
The Brain Tumor Research charity and Plymouth University have established a new Research Centre of Excellence, which will focus on low grade brain tumors – some of the most overlooked forms of brain tumors. [Plymouth University] Press Release

New Alzheimer’s Program to Focus on Prevention, Intervention, Research and Support
Seeking to stem the rapid increase of Alzheimer’s disease, Cedars-Sinai has launched a new Alzheimer’s Prevention Program to help identify patients at risk of developing the neurological disorder and to reduce the impact on those diagnosed with the slow-moving condition. [Cedars-Sinai] Press Release

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)

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

NEW Assistant Professor – Clinical Neurology (UCSF)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation (Van Andel Research Institute)

Head of Cellular and Molecular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood & Transplant)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Immunotherapy (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Developmental, Stem Cell, and/or Cancer Biology (North Carolina State University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology (Northwestern University)

Faculty Positions – Personalized Medicine (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Associate/Full Professor – Rudi Schmid Endowed Chair in Neuroscience (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Candidate – Dynamic Organization of Synapses (INSERM)

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.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.