Volume 10.07 | Feb 24 - Neural Cell News

Neural Cell News 10.07 February 24, 2016

TOP STORY

The Brain Gives Up More Secrets
Researchers have broken new ground in the understanding of the complex functioning of the brain. They demonstrated that brain cells, known as astrocytes, which play fundamental roles in nearly all aspects of brain function, can be adjusted by neurons in response to injury and disease. [Press release from McGill University discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

Neural Supplements For High-Quality Neural Cell Cultures

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Axon Degeneration Gated by Retrograde Activation of Somatic Pro-Apoptotic Signaling
The signaling driving axon degeneration upon local deprivation is proposed to reside within axons. The authors instead support a model in which, despite the apoptotic machinery being present in axons, the cell body is an active participant in gating axonal caspase activation and axon degeneration. [Cell]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Insertional Mutagenesis Identifies a STAT3/Arid1b/β-Catenin Pathway Driving Neurofibroma Initiation
Genetic deletion of Stat3 in Schwann cell progenitors (SCPs) and Schwann cells prevented neurofibroma formation, decreasing SCP self-renewal and β-catenin activity. β-catenin expression rescued the effects of Stat3 loss in SCPs. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Age-Related Neurogenesis Decline in the Subventricular Zone Is Associated with Specific Cell Cycle Regulation Changes in Activated Neural Stem Cells
Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique that allows for the prospective purification of the main neurogenic populations from the subventricular zone, scientists demonstrated an early decline in adult neurogenesis with a dramatic loss of progenitor cells in four month-old young adult mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Traumatic Brain Injury Causes Aberrant Migration of Adult-Born Neurons in the Hippocampus
Researchers assessed the destination of adult-born neurons following traumatic brain injury. They found that a large percentage of immature neurons migrated past their normal stopping site at the inner granular cell layer (GCL), and became misplaced in the outer GCL of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. [Sci Rep] Full Article

ER Stress and Autophagic Perturbations Lead to Elevated Extracellular α-Synuclein in GBA-N370S Parkinson’s iPSC-Derived Dopamine Neurons
The authors analyzed ten independent induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from three controls and three unrelated Parkinson’s disease patients heterozygous for the GBA-N370S mutation, and identified relevant disease mechanisms. After differentiation into dopaminergic neurons, they observed misprocessing of mutant glucocerebrosidase protein in the ER, associated with activation of ER stress and abnormal cellular lipid profiles. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

EVA1A/TMEM166 Regulates Embryonic Neurogenesis by Autophagy
Scientists showed that Eva1a/Tmem166, an autophagy-related gene, regulates neural stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Eva1a depletion impaired the generation of newborn neurons, both in vivo and in vitro. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Altered Kv2.1 Functioning Promotes Increased Excitability in Hippocampal Neurons of an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
The authors investigated Kv2.1 currents and its relation to the intrinsic synaptic activity of hippocampal neurons from 3xTg-AD (triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease) mice, a widely employed preclinical Alzheimer’s disease model. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

ER-α36, a Novel Variant of ERα, Is Involved in the Regulation of Tamoxifen-Sensitivity of Glioblastoma Cells
The significance of ER-α36 to tamoxifen resistance in glioblastoma cells was examined. An analysis of ER-α36 expression in two glioblastoma cell lines U87-MG and U251, showed that ER-α36 was anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane of these cells via caveolin-1. [Steroids] Abstract

REVIEWS

Utilizing Stem Cells for Three-Dimensional Neural Tissue Engineering
The authors discuss the vast potential, as well as the current challenges, unique to integration of three-dimensional fabrication strategies and stem cells into neural tissue engineering. [Biomater Sci] Abstract

Wnt-YAP Interactions in the Neural Fate of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and the Implications for Neural Organoid Formation
The authors highlight recent advances in neural tissue patterning from human pluripotent stem cells, in particular the role of Wnt pathway and Yes-associated protein (YAP) activity in this process. [Organogenesis] Abstract

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

Cancer MoonShot 2020 Announces the Formation of a National Pediatrics Consortium, a Major Milestone in the War on Cancer in Children
Cancer MoonShot 2020 announced another milestone in its quest to alter the course of cancer care with the formation of the Pediatrics Consortium focused on bringing the promise of combined immunotherapy as the next-generation standard of cancer care to children diagnosed with the disease. [Cancer MoonShot 2020] Press Release

Cutting Edge Medical Research Ideas Receive £23.2 Million Boost
The Medical Research Council is accelerating innovative medical research with £23.2 million in new funding to take ground-breaking ideas from UK universities into industry and out to patients. [Medical Research Council] Press Release

Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease to be Tested by Pitt, UPMC Experts
Experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPMC) are leading the second arm of a clinical trial using gene therapy to relieve the symptoms of tremor and mobility impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Discover how to reduce variability in primary neuron cultures with NeuroCult™ SM. Watch the webinar.

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 3^rd Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference (ITOC)
March 21-23, 2016
Munich, Germany

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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