NCAM1 Polysialylation: The Prion Protein's Elusive Reason for Being?
Much confusion surrounds the physiological function of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). It is, however, anticipated that knowledge of its function will shed light on its contribution to neurodegenerative diseases and suggest ways to interfere with the cellular toxicity central to them. Consequently, efforts to elucidate its function have been all but exhaustive. Building on earlier work that uncovered the evolutionary descent of the prion founder gene from an ancestral ZIP zinc transporter, we recently investigated a possible role of PrPC in a morphogenetic program referred to as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT...
Source: ASN Neuro - November 21, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Mehrabian, M., Hildebrandt, H., Schmitt-Ulms, G. Tags: Review Source Type: research

HIV Glycoprotein Gp120 Impairs Fast Axonal Transport by Activating Tak1 Signaling Pathways
Sensory neuropathies are the most common neurological complication of HIV. Of these, distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is directly caused by HIV infection and characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Mechanisms for axonal degeneration in DSP remain unclear, but recent experiments revealed that the HIV glycoprotein gp120 is internalized and localized within axons of DRG neurons. Based on these findings, we investigated whether intra-axonal gp120 might impair fast axonal transport (FAT), a cellular process critical for appropriate maintenance of the axonal compartment. Si...
Source: ASN Neuro - November 19, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Berth, S. H., Mesnard-Hoaglin, N., Wang, B., Kim, H., Song, Y., Sapar, M., Morfini, G., Brady, S. T. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Assessment of Neuroprotective Properties of Melissa officinalis in Combination With Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells After Spinal Cord Injury
Conclusion The results revealed that the combination of MO and hUCBSCs in comparison with the control group has neuroprotective effects in SCI. (Source: ASN Neuro)
Source: ASN Neuro - November 2, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Hosseini, S. R., Kaka, G., Joghataei, M. T., Hooshmandi, M., Sadraie, S. H., Yaghoobi, K., Mohammadi, A. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Grafted Neural Precursors Integrate Into Mouse Striatum, Differentiate and Promote Recovery of Function Through Release of Erythropoietin in MPTP-Treated Mice
Erythropoietin-releasing neural precursor cells (Er-NPCs) are a subclass of subventricular zone-derived neural progenitors, capable of surviving for 6 hr after death of donor. They present higher neural differentiation. Here, Er-NPCs were studied in animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Dopaminergic degeneration was caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine intraperitoneal administration in C57BL/6 mice. The loss of function was evaluated by specific behavioral tests. Er-NPCs (2.5 x 105) expressing the green fluorescent protein were administered by stereotaxic injection unilaterally in the left striatum. ...
Source: ASN Neuro - October 26, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Carelli, S., Giallongo, T., Viaggi, C., Gombalova, Z., Latorre, E., Mazza, M., Vaglini, F., Di Giulio, A. M., Gorio, A. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Photoperiod Modulates Fast Delayed Rectifier Potassium Currents in the Mammalian Circadian Clock
One feature of the mammalian circadian clock, situated in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is its ability to measure day length and thereby contribute to the seasonal adaptation of physiology and behavior. The timing signal from the SCN, namely the 24 hr pattern of electrical activity, is adjusted according to the photoperiod being broader in long days and narrower in short days. Vasoactive intestinal peptide and gamma-aminobutyric acid play a crucial role in intercellular communication within the SCN and contribute to the seasonal changes in phase distribution. However, little is known about the underlying ionic mechani...
Source: ASN Neuro - October 2, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Farajnia, S., Meijer, J. H., Michel, S. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Intranasal Administration of Interferon Beta Attenuates Neuronal Apoptosis via the JAK1/STAT3/BCL-2 Pathway in a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of interferon beta (IFNβ) to provide neuroprotection and reduce apoptosis after HIE. Postnatal Day 10 rat pups were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by 2.5 hr of exposure to hypoxia (8% O2). Intranasal administration of human recombinant IFNβ occurred 2 hr after HIE and infarct volume, body weight, neurobehavioral tests, histology, immunohistochemistry, brain water content, blood–brain barrier permeability, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot were all used to evaluate various parameters. The results showed tha...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 27, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Dixon, B. J., Chen, D., Zhang, Y., Flores, J., Malaguit, J., Nowrangi, D., Zhang, J. H., Tang, J. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Anti-Sulfoglucuronosyl Paragloboside Antibody: A Potential Serologic Marker of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Although the etiology of ALS is obscure, genetic studies of familiar ALS suggest a multifactorial etiology for this condition. Similarly, there probably are multiple causes for sporadic ALS. Autoimmune-mediated motor neuron dysfunction is one proposed etiology for sporadic ALS. In the present study, anti-glycolipid antibodies including GM1, GD1b, GD3, and sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG) were investigated in the sera of a large number of patient samples, including 113 ALS pati...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 27, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Li, D., Usuki, S., Quarles, B., Rivner, M. H., Ariga, T., Yu, R. K. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Enhanced Histochemical Detection of Iron in Paraffin Sections of Mouse Central Nervous System Tissue: Application in the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimers Disease
In conclusion, modifications to the histochemical staining revealed new insights into the deposition of iron in the central nervous system. In theory, the approach should be transferrable to organs besides the brain and to other species, and the underlying principles should be incorporable into a variety of staining methods. (Source: ASN Neuro)
Source: ASN Neuro - September 27, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sands, S. A., Leung-Toung, R., Wang, Y., Connelly, J., LeVine, S. M. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Transcriptional Fingerprint of Hypomyelination in Zfp191null and Shiverer (Mbpshi) Mice
This study demonstrates that the loss of ZFP191 disrupts expression of genes involved in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination, largely independent from the loss of myelin. Nevertheless, hypomyelination in both mouse mutants results in the perturbation of lipid synthesis pathways, suggesting that oligodendrocytes have a feedback system that allows them to regulate myelin lipid synthesis depending on their myelinating state. The data presented are of potential clinical relevance as the human orthologs of the Zfp191 and MBP genes reside on a region of Chromosome 18 that is deleted in childhood leukodystrophies. (Source: ASN Neuro)
Source: ASN Neuro - September 27, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Aaker, J. D., Elbaz, B., Wu, Y., Looney, T. J., Zhang, L., Lahn, B. T., Popko, B. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Clock Genes in Glia Cells: A Rhythmic History
Circadian rhythms are periodic patterns in biological processes that allow the organisms to anticipate changes in the environment. These rhythms are driven by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master circadian clock in vertebrates. At a molecular level, circadian rhythms are regulated by the so-called clock genes, which oscillate in a periodic manner. The protein products of clock genes are transcription factors that control their own and other genes’ transcription, collectively known as "clock-controlled genes." Several brain regions other than the SCN express circadian rhythms of clock genes, including the amy...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 24, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Chi-Castaneda, D., Ortega, A. Tags: Review Source Type: research

HIV-1 Tat Inhibits Autotaxin Lysophospholipase D Activity and Modulates Oligodendrocyte Differentiation
White matter injury has been frequently reported in HIV+ patients. Previous studies showed that HIV-1 Tat (transactivator of transcription), a viral protein that is produced and secreted by HIV-infected cells, is toxic to young, immature oligodendrocytes (OLGs). Adding Tat to the culture medium reduced the viability of immature OLGs, and the surviving OLGs exhibited reduced process networks. OLGs produce and secrete autotaxin (ATX), an ecto-enzyme containing a lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity that converts lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid signaling molecule that stimulates OLG dif...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 21, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Wheeler, N. A., Fuss, B., Knapp, P. E., Zou, S. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Knockdown of Unconventional Myosin ID Expression Induced Morphological Change in Oligodendrocytes
We report here that Myo1d is expressed during later stages of OL differentiation, together with myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). In addition, Myo1d is distributed at the leading edge of the myelin-like membrane in cultured OL, colocalizing mainly with actin filaments, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and partially with PLP. Myo1d-knockdown with specific siRNA induces significant morphological changes such as the retraction of processes and degeneration of myelin-like membrane, and finally apoptosis. Furthermore, loss of Myo1d by siRNA results in the impairment of intracellular PLP transport. Together, these resul...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 20, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Yamazaki, R., Ishibashi, T., Baba, H., Yamaguchi, Y. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Gas6 Promotes Oligodendrogenesis and Myelination in the Adult Central Nervous System and After Lysolecithin-Induced Demyelination
In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Gas6/TAM signaling stimulates the generation of oligodendrocytes and increased myelin production via Tyro3 receptor in the adult CNS, including repair after demyelinating injury. Furthermore, the effects of Gas6 on STAT3 signaling and matrix MMP9 downregulation indicate potential glial cell repair and immunoregulatory roles for Gas6, indicating that Gas6-TAM signaling could be a potential therapeutic target in MS and other neuropathologies. (Source: ASN Neuro)
Source: ASN Neuro - September 13, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Goudarzi, S., Rivera, A., Butt, A. M., Hafizi, S. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Diffusible Factors Secreted by Glioblastoma and Medulloblastoma Cells Induce Oxidative Stress in Bystander Neural Stem Progenitors
Harmful effects that alter the homeostasis of neural stem or progenitor cells (NSPs) can affect regenerative processes in the central nervous system. We investigated the effect of soluble factors secreted by control or 137Cs--irradiated glioblastoma or medulloblastoma cells on redox-modulated endpoints in recipient human NSPs. Growth medium harvested from the nonirradiated brain tumor cells, following 24 h of growth, induced prominent oxidative stress in recipient NSPs as judged by overall increases in mitochondrial superoxide radical levels (p < .001), activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase, and decrease in the active f...
Source: ASN Neuro - August 8, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sharma, N., Colangelo, N. W., de Toledo, S. M., Azzam, E. I. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Increased Risk of Autism Development in Children Whose Mothers Experienced Birth Complications or Received Labor and Delivery Drugs
This study surveyed mothers of ASD and non-ASD children to determine possible effects of labor and delivery (L&D) drugs on the development of ASD. The survey was administered to mothers; however, the results were analyzed by child, as the study focused on the development of autism. Furthermore, an independent ASD dataset from the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center was analyzed and compared. Indeed, L&D drugs are associated with ASD (p = .039). Moreover, the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center dataset shows that the labor induction drug, Pitocin, is significantly associated with ASD (p = .004). ...
Source: ASN Neuro - August 8, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Smallwood, M., Sareen, A., Baker, E., Hannusch, R., Kwessi, E., Williams, T. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research