Aβ-Dependent Reduction of NCAM2-Mediated Synaptic Adhesion Contributes to Synapse Loss in Alzheimer’s Disease
The authors showed that the neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2) is enriched in synapses in the human hippocampus. This enrichment is abolished in the hippocampus of AD patients and in brains of mice overexpressing the human amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor protein carrying the pathogenic Swedish mutation. Aβ binds to NCAM2 at the cell surface of cultured hippocampal neurons and induces removal of NCAM2 from synapses. [Nat Commun] Full Article|Press Release
Mouse Models of Human PIK3CA-Related Brain Overgrowth Have Acutely Treatable Epilepsy
Researchers generated mouse models expressing the most common activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (Pik3ca) mutations in developing neural progenitors. These accurately recapitulated all the key human pathological features including brain enlargement, cortical malformation, hydrocephalus and epilepsy, with phenotypic severity dependent on the mutant allele and its time of activation. [eLife]
Abstract|Full Article|Press Release
Cell Type-Dependent ROS and Mitophagy Response Leads to Apoptosis or Necroptosis in Neuroblastoma
Scientists investigated the molecular mechanisms by which the hemisynthetic cardiac glycoside UNBS1450 overcomes this limitation and induces differential cell death modalities in both neuroblastic and stromal neuroblastoma through stimulation of a cell-type-specific autophagic response eventually leading to apoptosis or necroptosis. [Oncogene] Abstract
UC San Diego Receives Michael J. Fox Foundation Grant to Identify Parkinson’s Biomarkers
Parkinson’s disease is difficult to diagnose, particularly in its early stages. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine – aided by a $375,000 grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – hope to improve the prospects of early diagnosis by identifying a biological signpost in the blood. [University of California, San Diego School of Medicine] Press Release
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