TOP STORY

Selective Induction of Astrocytic Gliosis Generates Deficits in Neuronal Inhibition
Investigators found that high-titer transduction of astrocytes with enhanced green fluorescent protein via adeno-associated virus induced reactive astrocytosis without altering the intrinsic properties or anatomy of neighboring neurons. [Nat Neurosci]

SCIENCE NEWS

Gene-Targeted Therapy Might Help Prevent Paralysis
A study in rats is raising new hope for a treatment that might help spare people with injured spines from the paralysis that often follows such trauma. [Press release from HealthDay News discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]

Singapore Scientists' Zebrafish Model for Parkinson's Disease an Important Step Closer to Drug Development for the Disease
Scientists have recently developed a zebrafish model for Parkinson's disease that can be used for understanding the mechanism underlying its development. [Press release from the Genome Institute of Singapore discussing online prepublication in PLoS Genetics]

Studying Altered Brain Cells Sheds Light on Epilepsy
Neuroscience researchers have zeroed in on a novel mechanism that helps control the firing of electrical signals among neurons. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience]

Advanced Cell Technology's Studies to Support Phase I Multicenter Trial of Patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy Demonstrate Excellent Safety Profile
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that it has completed key animal studies in connection with its Phase I multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy, for which it filed an Investigational New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. Press Release]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Deletion of the WD₄₀ Domain of LRRK2 in Zebrafish Causes Parkinsonism-Like Loss of Neurons and Locomotive Defect
Researchers cloned the homolog of human LRRK2, characterized its expression, and investigated its biological functions in zebrafish. [PLoS Genetics]

Pluripotent Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases
Investigators speculate about potential further experimental requirements and settings for reprogrammed neurons for in vitro disease modeling and drug discovery. [Hum Mol Genet]

JNK3 Mediates Paraquat- and Rotenone-Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Death
Using an antibody that recognizes all isoforms of activated c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs), researchers found that paraquat and rotenone stimulate JNK phosphorylation in primary cultured dopaminergic neurons. [J Neuropathol Exp Neurol]

Brief Suppression of Abcc8 Prevents Autodestruction of Spinal Cord After Trauma
Elimination of SUR1 in Abcc8^-/- mice and in rats given antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against Abcc8 prevented progressive hemorrhagic necrosis, yielded significantly better neurological function, and resulted in lesions that were one-fourth to one-third the size of those in control animals. [Sci Transl Med]

The Pleotrophic Effects of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I on Human Spinal Cord Neural Progenitor Cells
While insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) activates both AKT and MAPK signaling in human neural stem cells, researchers demonstrate that IGF-I-mediated neurite outgrowth is dependent only on AKT signaling. Finally, researchers demonstrate that IGF-I is neuroprotective following glutamate exposure in a model of excitotoxic cell death. [Stem Cells Dev]

An Abbreviated Protocol for Multilineage Neural Differentiation of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells and Its Perturbation by Methyl Mercury
In the present study, investigators developed an improved test system for assessing neurodevelopmental toxicity using differentiating embryonic stem cells. [Reprod Toxicol] 

Neurotrophin-4 Mediates Neurogenesis in Mouse Embryonic Neural Stem Cells Through the Inhibition of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 and the Modulation of the Activity of Protein Kinase B
Findings suggest that the neurotrophin-4-activated signaling cascade is responsible for initiating a concert among sheddases, kinases, and phosphatases to mediate neurogenesis. [Cell Mol Neurobiol]

INDUSTRY NEWS

StemCells, Inc. Plans to Advance to Second Clinical Trial in Batten Disease
StemCells, Inc. announced that it has submitted a protocol to the Food and Drug Administration for initiation of a second clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC^® human neural stem cells in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, which is also often referred to as Batten disease. [StemCells, Inc. Press Release]

Ontario's $11.5 Million Will Build Network for Stem Cell-Based Therapies
McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute has received $11.5 million to lead a world-class initiative to develop new stem cell-based therapies. [McMaster University Press Release]

POLICY NEWS

Michigan Senate Passes Stem Cell Regulation Package
The Republican-led Senate passed a package of regulations critics say will place a chill on stem cell research in violation of the Michigan Constitution. [Michigan Senate, United States]

Instructions for Completion and Technical Evaluation of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Contract Proposals (NOT-OD-10-049) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Information (RFI): Priorities for the NIH Adherence Research Network (NOT-OD-10-078) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

FDA Announces Draft Revised Guidance on Transparency and Advisory Committees [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Risk Communication Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Draft Guidance for the Public, Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee Members, and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Public Availability of Advisory Committee Members' Financial Interest Information and Waivers; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2002-D-0094] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

EVENTS

European Symposium on Stem Cell Research for Stroke
May 4-5, 2010
Ascotel, France

2010 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting
May 15-18, 2010
Ottawa, Canada

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

BIT's 1st World Congress of NeuroTalk 2010
June 25-28, 2010
Singapore City, Singapore

7th Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum of European Neuroscience
July 3-7, 2010
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

6th International Symposium on Neuroprotection and Neurorepair
October 1-4, 2010
Rostock, Germany

40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2010
November 13-17, 2010
San Diego, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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