Neural Cell News Volume 9.45 | Dec 2 2015

PAR1 Inhibition Suppresses the Self-Renewal and Growth of A2B5-Defined Glioma Progenitor Cells and Their Derived Gliomas In Vivo
Lentiviral knockdown of PAR1 inhibited the expansion and self-renewal of human glioblastoma-derived A2B5⁺ tumor-initiating progenitor cells (TPCs) in vitro, while pharmacological inhibition of PAR 1 similarly slowed both the growth and migration of A2B5⁺ TPCs in culture. [Oncogene] Abstract

Endothelin-B Receptor Activation in Astrocytes Regulates the Rate of Oligodendrocyte Regeneration during Remyelination
Using pharmacological approaches and cell-specific endothelin receptor ablation, investigators showed that endothelin-1 acts selectively through endothelin receptor B on astrocytes—and not oligodendrocyte progenitor cells—to indirectly inhibit remyelination. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Decellularized Retinal Matrix: Natural Platforms for Human Retinal Progenitor Cell Culture
Investigators developed decellularized retina thin films. Attachment, viability, morphology, proliferation and gene expression of human retinal progenitor cell cultured on the films were studied in vitro. [Acta Biomater] Abstract

Targeted Cellular Ablation Based on the Morphology of Malignant Cells
Treatment of glioblastoma multiforme is especially challenging due to a shortage of methods to preferentially target diffuse infiltrative cells, and therapy-resistant glioma stem cell populations. Researchers report a physical treatment method based on electrical disruption of cells, whose action depends strongly on cellular morphology. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Elevated α-Synuclein Caused by SNCA Gene Triplication Impairs Neuronal Differentiation and Maturation in Parkinson’s Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Researchers assessed the impact of α-synuclein overexpression on the differentiation potential and phenotypic signatures of two neural-committed induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from a Parkinson’s disease patient with a triplication of the human SNCA genomic locus. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Altered Oligodendrocyte Maturation and Myelin Maintenance: The Role of Antiretrovirals in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
The authors showed that primary mouse oligodendrocyte precursor cell cultures treated with therapeutic concentrations of HIV protease inhibitors ritonavir or lopinavir displayed dose-dependent decreases in oligodendrocyte maturation; however, this effect was rapidly reversed after drug removal. [J Neuropathol Exp Neurol] Abstract | Press Release

Sensitivity of Neural Stem Cell Survival, Differentiation and Neurite Outgrowth within 3D Hydrogels to Environmental Heavy Metals
Scientists investigated the sensitivity of embryonic murine neural stem cells exposed to 10 pM–10 μM concentrations of three heavy metals, continuously for 14 days within 3D collagen hydrogels. [Toxicol Lett] Abstract

Combined MSC Secreted Factors and Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Promote Functional Recovery of PD Rats
Scientists prepared a conditioned medium (CM) using lyophilized mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) culture medium which contained the secretome of MSCs, and applied this CM to the culture of neural stem cells for the transplantation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) model rats. [Cell Transplant] Full Article

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American Brain Tumor Association Announces Two Research Funding Opportunities to Support Early-Career Brain Tumor Scientists
The American Brain Tumor Association is accepting applications for its 2016-2018 Basic Research Fellowship and 2016 Medical Student Summer Fellowship programs. These are two-year, $100,000 grants supporting postdoctoral fellows embarking on careers dedicated to brain tumor research [American Brain Tumor Association] Press Release

Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals Receives SBIR Funding for Development of HBI-002 as a Cytoprotective Therapeutic in Acute Cerebral Injury
Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the award of a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke of approximately $700,000 to fund further pre-clinical development of the Company’s lead product candidate, HBI-002, for the treatment of acute cerebral injury. [Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

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Research Assistant, Associate or Full Professor – Vision Health (University of Montreal)

Investigator – Cancer Biology (Wake Forest Baptist School of Medicine)

Faculty Position – Neuroscience (RIKEN Brain Science Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Scaffold Design & Drug/Gene Delivery for Neural Tissue Engineering (Nanyang Technological University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Engineering Research (Nanyang Technological University)

Director – Brown Institute for Brain Science (Brown University)

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