Neural Cell News Volume 9.04 | Feb 4 2015

    0
    40
    Neural Cell News 9.04 February 4, 2015

    Neural Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
    Cell Therapy News on Facebook  NCN on Twitter

     
    TOP STORY
    Growing Functioning Brain Tissue in 3D
    Researchers have succeeded in inducing human embryonic stem cells to self-organize into a three-dimensional structure similar to the cerebellum, providing tantalizing clues in the quest to recreate neural structures in the laboratory. [Press release from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology discussing online publication in Cell Reports] Press Release | Full Article | Graphical Abstract
    [Free On-Demand Webinar] Detect Cancer Stem Cells with ALDEFLUORâ„¢ - Watch Now.

     
    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    Human-Derived Neural Progenitors Functionally Replace Astrocytes in Adult Mice
    Researchers demonstrate that after transplantation into the cervical spinal cords of adult mice with severe combined immunodeficiency, human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors migrate a long distance and differentiate to astrocytes that nearly replace their mouse counterparts over a nine-month period. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Press Release

    Polymeric Nanoparticles for Non-Viral Gene Therapy Extend Brain Tumor Survival In Vivo
    Scientists investigated polymer structure for gene delivery in two rat glioma cell lines, 9L and F98, to discover nanoparticle formulations more effective than the leading commercial reagent Lipofectamine 2000. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Press Release

    NPD1-Mediated Stereoselective Regulation of BIRC3 Expression through cREL Is Decisive for Neural Cell Survival
    Scientists report that, in retinal pigment epithelial cells, neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) induces nuclear translocation and cREL synthesis that, in turn, mediates BIRC3 transcription. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article | Press Release

    Neural Stem Cell Progeny Regulate Stem Cell Death in a Notch and Hox Dependent Manner
    Researchers identified a cis-regulatory region that controls the transcription of the cell death activators reaper, grim and sickle exclusively in neural stem cells. Using a reporter generated from this regulatory region, they found that Notch activity is required for neural stem cell death. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

    Oct-3/4 Modulates the Drug-Resistant Phenotype of Glioblastoma Cells through Expression of ATP Binding Cassette Transporter G2
    The involvement of Oct-3/4 in drug resistance of glioblastoma cells was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase assay, efflux assay of an anticancer drug, poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage, and in vivo xenograft experiments. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

    MECP2e1 Isoform Mutation Affects the Form and Function of Neurons Derived from Rett Syndrome Patient iPS Cells
    RTTe1 patient induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived neurons retain an inactive X-chromosome and express only the mutant allele. Single-cell mRNA analysis demonstrated they have a molecular signature of cortical neurons. Mutant neurons exhibited a decrease in soma size, reduced dendritic complexity and decreased cell capacitance, consistent with impaired neuronal maturation. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract

    Early Intervention for Spinal Cord Injury with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Oligodendrocyte Progenitors
    Scientists demonstrate for the first time that oligodendrocyte progenitors can be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells generated using either an episomal, non-integrating plasmid approach or standard integrating retroviruses that survive and differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes after early transplantation into the injured spinal cord. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Differential Regulation of Caspase-2 in MPP+-Induced Apoptosis in Primary Cortical Neurons
    Researchers verified the involvement of mitochondria in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced and spontaneous apoptosis in cortical neurons through confocal microscope analysis. They demonstrate that caspase-2 activation is specific to MPP+-induced apoptosis and occurs before Bcl-2 associated protein X translocation to the mitochondria. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

    MCT4-Mediated Expression of EAAT1 is Involved in the Resistance to Hypoxia Injury in Astrocyte-Neuron Co-Cultures
    Scientists hypothesized that astrocytes would respond to hypoxic conditions by enhancing their expression of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) and excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1), which, in turn, would enable them to better support neurons to survive lethal hypoxia injury. [Neurochem Res] Abstract

    Efficiently Expand hPSC-Derived NPCs Without Loss of Multipotency: STEMdiffâ„¢ Neural Progenitor Medium

     
    REVIEWS
    Retinal Microglia in Glaucoma
    The authors review the current research on microglia as it relates to glaucoma, and summarize the potential microglia-targeted therapies. [J Glaucoma] Abstract

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

     
    INDUSTRY NEWS
    QR Pharma Begins Collaboration on Posiphen and Huntington’s Disease
    The collaboration will focus on preclinical research involving QR’s lead drug candidate, Posiphen®. Investigators at Rockefeller will conduct experiments in stem cell culture models of Huntington’s disease (HD) to determine, if Posiphen lowers the levels of the toxic huntingtin protein in these cells, if it promotes differentiation into neuronal cells and, if it prolongs the cell life of the HD cells. [QR Pharma (BusinessWire)] Press Release

    New Approach to Delay Alzheimer’s Dementia Onset to Be Tested in Phase-III Clinical Trial
    The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation announced a $900,000 grant to AgeneBio. The grant will support the initiation of an FDA-registered Phase III clinical trial of AGB101, a new therapeutic treatment for amnestic mild cognitive impairment. [Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation] Press Release

    Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals Announce Initiation of Phase IIa Clinical Trial Program for F17464 in Schizophrenia
    Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals announced the initiation of a Phase IIa clinical trial program for F17464, a new selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, in schizophrenia. [Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals (B3C Group GmbH)] Press Release

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

     
    POLICY NEWS
    Congressman Fattah Meets with Biotech Company on Brain Research Efforts; Announced as Co-Chair of Alzheimer’s Caucus
    Congressman Chaka Fattah, architect of the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative, met with Amarantus, a biotechnology company, on their recent efforts to develop treatment and diagnostics for degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s. [United States House of Representatives] Editorial

    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 Stem Cell Summit 2015
    April 27-29, 2015
    Boston, United States

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Research Technologist, Neural (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    NEW Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

    NEW Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

    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.)

    Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Assistant/Associate Professor – Gastroenterology (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Prion Research (Van Andel Research Institute)

    Faculty Position – Neuroscience (North Carolina State University)

    Postdoctoral Fellowship – CNS Inflammation (Rutgers University)

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation Governing Cancer Cell Behavior (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

    Postdoctoral Researcher – Epigenetic Mechanisms and Behavioral Outcomes of Developmental Neurotoxicity (Thomas Jefferson University)

    Postdoctoral Fellow – Wnt Signaling in Development and Disease (Van Andel Research Institute)

    Postdoctoral Position – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)


    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.

     

    Have we missed an important article or publication in Neural Cell News? Click here to submit!

    Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here

    Learn more about Neural Cell News: Archives | Events | Contact Us