Article
Veterinary Sciences
Woo Keyoung Kim, Yeon Sung Son, Ji-Hey Lim, Wan Hee Kim, Byung-Jae Kang
Summary: This study demonstrates the successful isolation and propagation of NSPCs derived from the canine cervical spinal cord, which have the potential to differentiate into neuronal and glial cells.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yoshinobu Hirano, Takayuki Nakagomi, Akiko Nakano-Doi, Shuji Kubo, Yusuke Minato, Toshinori Sawano, Masafumi Sakagami, Kenzo Tsuzuki
Summary: We have previously shown that neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) are induced in and around areas affected by ischemic stroke in mice. These injury/ischemia-induced NSPCs (iNSPCs) can differentiate into functional neurons in vitro, indicating a self-repair mechanism after injury. However, during the healing process, the ischemic areas are occupied by inflammatory cells, primarily microglial cells/macrophages (MGs/Mfs), and neurogenesis rarely occurs. To investigate the role of MGs/Mfs in regulating iNSPCs, we isolated iNSPCs from the ischemic areas and found that the presence of MGs/Mfs significantly reduces both the proliferation and differentiation of iNSPCs into neuronal cells, thus inhibiting neurogenesis. Depleting MG/Mfs using clodronate encapsulated in liposomes mitigated these effects. Our results suggest that regulating MGs/Mfs is crucial for achieving iNSPC-based neural regeneration after ischemic stroke.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Luan, Hanyue Zhang, Kaige Ma, Yingfei Liu, Haixia Lu, Xinlin Chen, Yong Liu, Zhichao Zhang
Summary: Neural stem cells (NSCs) have immense potential for the repair and regeneration of the central nervous system, including hippocampal-related diseases. In this study, it was found that supplementing CCN3 improved NSC viability and inhibited neuronal differentiation. These findings may contribute to the development of stem cell treatment strategies for hippocampal-related diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jose Manuel Inacio, Joao von Gilsa Lopes, Ana Mafalda Silva, Fernando Cristo, Sara Marques, Matthias E. Futschik, Jose Antonio Belo
Summary: Deciphering the clues of a regenerative mechanism for the mammalian adult heart, particularly focusing on the role of DAND5, could potentially lead to the development of more effective treatment options for heart failure. Further research on the transcriptional profiling sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR assays of DAND5 may provide insights into the generation and expansion of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes systems for clinical applications.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Kimberly J. Berry, Uma Chandran, Fangping Mu, Dinesh K. Deochand, T. Lei, Miriam Pagin, Silvia K. Nicolis, A. Paula Monaghan-Nichols, Inez Rogatsky, Donald B. DeFranco
Summary: Prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids (sGCs) can reprogram brain development and increase the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the fetus. In a mouse model, researchers found that sGCs caused sexually dimorphic changes in the transcriptome of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the embryonic brain. By analyzing multiple genome-wide assays, they discovered that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) preferentially binds to specific regions of accessible chromatin to influence gene programming and cell fate decisions in NSPCs. They also identified SOX2 as a transcription factor that affects the genomic response of certain GR target genes to sGCs.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Wei Shan, Liping Zhou, Lizhen Liu, Deju Lin, Qin Yu
Summary: In this study, iPSCs were reprogrammed from somatic cells and differentiated into neurons through induction, with the key role of Bmi1 in the process highlighted.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yifan Wang, Tengfei Zhao, Yiren Jiao, Hanxu Huang, Yongxiang Zhang, Ao Fang, Xuhua Wang, Yanling Zhou, Haochen Gu, Qionghua Wu, Jiang Chang, Fangcai Li, Kan Xu
Summary: This study investigates the effect of Laponite nanoplatelets on stem cell therapy. The results show that Laponite nanoplatelets can induce the neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells within five days in vitro, and the NF-kappa B pathway is involved in this process. Moreover, Laponite nanoplatelets can increase the survival rate of transplanted neural stem cells and promote their differentiation into mature neurons. The formation of connections between transplanted cells and host cells is confirmed by axon tracing. Therefore, Laponite nanoplatelets can be considered a convenient and practical biomaterial to enhance the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation and promote repair of the injured spinal cord.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Masahiro Otsu, Zubair Ahmed, Daniel Fulton
Summary: A simple method was developed to generate immature oligodendrocyte lineage cells from mouse ESC-derived neural stem cells, which showed potential for differentiation into mature OPC under specific conditions. Interestingly, these cells retained multipotentiality and could differentiate into neurons or astrocytes. However, their efficiency in myelinating axons was lower compared to primary OPC.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Naoya Yuizumi, Yujin Harada, Takaaki Kuniya, Takehiko Sunabori, Masato Koike, Masaki Wakabayashi, Yasushi Ishihama, Yutaka Suzuki, Daichi Kawaguchi, Yukiko Gotoh
Summary: Lysosomes play a crucial role in regulating the differentiation of neural stem-progenitor cells in the embryonic brain, with TFEB and TFE3 potentially maintaining the undifferentiated state of NPCs through controlling lysosomal biosynthesis. The abundance of lysosomes is associated with cell division activity and the embryonic origin of adult NSCs. TFEB-AA overexpression suppresses neuronal differentiation and the cell cycle of neocortical NPCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Lingyan Fang, Takaaki Kuniya, Yujin Harada, Osamu Yasuda, Nobuyo Maeda, Yutaka Suzuki, Daichi Kawaguchi, Yukiko Gotoh
Summary: Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) arise from a slowly dividing subpopulation of embryonic neural stem-progenitor cells (NPCs). The maintenance of these slowly dividing embryonic NPCs until adulthood and their role in the establishment of adult NSCs is poorly understood. This study explores the potential involvement of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), regulators of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, in the establishment and maintenance of adult NSCs. The findings suggest that TIMP3 plays a crucial role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of embryonic NPCs, leading to the establishment and maintenance of adult NSCs.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mehdi Farokhi, Fatemeh Mottaghitalab, Mohammad Reza Saeb, Shahrokh Shojaei, Negin Khaneh Zarrin, Sabu Thomas, Seeram Ramakrishna
Summary: Currently, there are no clinically available methods to enhance neural structural regeneration and functional recovery of nerve injuries. Conductive materials, such as polypyrrole and graphene, have been considered as one of the best choices for nerve regeneration due to their capacity to control the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Weiwei Xue, Caixia Fan, Bing Chen, Yannan Zhao, Zhifeng Xiao, Jianwu Dai
Summary: Transplantation of neural stem cells shows promise for restoring communication in spinal cord injury, but the inhibitory microenvironment often leads to glial differentiation rather than neuronal differentiation. Functional biomaterials can mitigate the adverse effects of the SCI microenvironment and promote neuronal differentiation of NSCs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nidaa A. Ababneh, Ban Al-Kurdi, Fatima Jamali, Abdalla Awidi
Summary: This study compared the differentiation abilities of MSCs isolated from different human tissue sources, and found that WJ-MSCs had a higher potential to differentiate into NSC and dopaminergic-like cells. This could provide an additional or alternative source of cells for neurological cell-based therapies.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhenghui He, Lijian Lang, Jiyuan Hui, Yuxiao Ma, Chun Yang, Weiji Weng, Jialin Huang, Xiongfei Zhao, Xiaoqi Zhang, Qian Liang, Jiyao Jiang, Junfeng Feng
Summary: This study found that around 7 days after TBI in mice, the subacute phase could encourage more neuronal differentiation after transplantation. The autophagy flux played a critical role in regulating neuronal differentiation and could be a potential target to improve the efficacy of transplantation in the early phase.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ayla Batu Ozturk, Nail Can Ozturk, Furkan Ayaz
Summary: Many neurodegenerative diseases show neuroinflammation and impaired neuron production in the hippocampus. Immunotherapeutic strategies targeting microglia may be problematic. Instructing monocytes/macrophages from the periphery could be a less invasive strategy. However, the interaction between CNS neurons and macrophages is poorly understood.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Ana Rita Ribeiro, Catarina Barros, Andreia Barateiro, Susan E. Howlett, Adelaide Fernandes, David Le Couteur
Summary: The study used frailty index to evaluate the overall health status of EAE mice, finding that this tool can provide more detailed depiction of EAE progression and severity, especially across different ages. Mice at 12 months of age exhibited atypical symptoms, with higher frailty scores compared to younger animals.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Adelaide Fernandes, Claudia Caldeira, Carolina Cunha, Elisabete Ferreiro, Ana Rita Vaz, Dora Brites
Summary: In this study, the temporal profile of inflammatory mediators and microglia deactivation/activation in the brain cortex and hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice was examined. The results showed different regulation patterns in different age groups of mice, and potential biomarkers were identified. These findings provide new insights into the development of Alzheimer's disease and suggest critical targets for drug discovery and combinatorial therapies.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gecioni Loch-Neckel, Ana Teresa Matos, Ana Rita Vaz, Dora Brites
Summary: sEVs, as a drug delivery system, possess desirable features and can be used to treat neurodegeneration associated with CNS diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Goncalo Garcia, Adelaide Fernandes, Frank Stein, Dora Brites
Summary: The study reveals that miR-124 plays a significant role in the inflammation and pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. The modulation of miR-124 in neuroblastoma cells affects the polarization of microglia subtypes in the context of inflammation. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the transfer of miR-124 from neurons to microglia, highlighting the importance of neuronal survival in the underlying mechanisms of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Catia Gomes, Catarina Sequeira, Shibi Likhite, Cassandra N. Dennys, Stephen J. Kolb, Pamela J. Shaw, Ana R. Vaz, Brian K. Kaspar, Kathrin Meyer, Dora Brites
Summary: Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts from ALS patients into astrocytes can help study the pathophysiology of the disease. Modulating miR-146a can restore neuroprotective phenotype and improve neuronal function in ALS patients.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabiola de Carvalho Chaves de Siqueira Mendes, Marina Negrao Frota de Almeida, Manoela Falsoni, Marcia Lorena Ferreira Andrade, Andre Pinheiro Gurgel Felicio, Luisa Taynah Vasconcelos Barbosa da Paixao, Fabio Leite do Amaral Junior, Daniel Clive Anthony, Dora Brites, Cristovam Wanderley Picanco Diniz, Marcia Consentino Kronka Sosthenes
Summary: This article reviews the impact of mastication and environmental enrichment on the structure of the brain and highlights the increased complexity of astrocytes in situations where neuronal loss and behavioral deficits are present.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Ermelinda Santos Silva, Susana Rocha, Rita Candeias Ramos, Helena Coutinho, Cristina Catarino, Fernanda Teixeira, Graca Henriques, Ana Isabel Lopes, Alice Santos-Silva, Dora Brites
Summary: This study found a potential association between bile acids profile and redox status in healthy infants, with the type of diet potentially influencing this relationship.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Rita Vaz, Ana Sofia Falcao, Valle Palomo
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Goncalo Garcia, Sara Pinto, Sofia Ferreira, Daniela Lopes, Maria Joao Serrador, Adelaide Fernandes, Ana Rita Vaz, Alexandre de Mendonca, Frank Edenhofer, Tarja Malm, Jari Koistinaho, Dora Brites
Summary: MiR-21 is found to be overexpressed in glial cells and exosomes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and also shows high expression in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with potential discriminatory ability. MiR-21 elevation is observed in microglia, neurons, and astrocytes in AD patients, and may be associated with the repression of its target, PPAR alpha.
Review
Neurosciences
Rosa C. Paolicelli, Amanda Sierra, Beth Stevens, Marie-Eve Tremblay, Adriano Aguzzi, Bahareh Ajami, Ido Amit, Etienne Audinat, Ingo Bechmann, Mariko Bennett, Frederick Bennett, Alain Bessis, Knut Biber, Staci Bilbo, Mathew Blurton-Jones, Erik Boddeke, Dora Brites, Bert Brone, Guy C. Brown, Oleg Butovsky, Monica J. Carson, Bernardo Castellano, Marco Colonna, Sally A. Cowley, Colm Cunningham, Dimitrios Davalos, Philip L. De Jager, Bart de Strooper, Adam Denes, Bart J. L. Eggen, Ukpong Eyo, Elena Galea, Sonia Garel, Florent Ginhoux, Christopher K. Glass, Ozgun Gokce, Diego Gomez-Nicola, Berta Gonzalez, Siamon Gordon, Manuel B. Graeber, Andrew D. Greenhalgh, Pierre Gressens, Melanie Greter, David H. Gutmann, Christian Haass, Michael T. Heneka, Frank L. Heppner, Soyon Hong, David A. Hume, Steffen Jung, Helmut Kettenmann, Jonathan Kipnis, Ryuta Koyama, Greg Lemke, Marina Lynch, Ania Majewska, Marzia Malcangio, Tarja Malm, Renzo Mancuso, Takahiro Masuda, Michela Matteoli, Barry W. McColl, Veronique E. Miron, Anna Victoria Molofsky, Michelle Monje, Eva Mracsko, Agnes Nadjar, Jonas J. Neher, Urte Neniskyte, Harald Neumann, Mami Noda, Bo Peng, Francesca Peri, V. Hugh Perry, Phillip G. Popovich, Clare Pridans, Josef Priller, Marco Prinz, Davide Ragozzino, Richard M. Ransohoff, Michael W. Salter, Anne Schaefer, Dorothy P. Schafer, Michal Schwartz, Mikael Simons, Cody J. Smith, Wolfgang J. Streit, Tuan Leng Tay, Li-Huei Tsai, Alexei Verkhratsky, Rommy von Bernhardi, Hiroaki Wake, Valerie Wittamer, Susanne A. Wolf, Long-Jun Wu, Tony Wyss-Coray
Summary: Microglial research has made significant progress, but the current classification system fails to accurately describe their diversity, leading to misconceptions about their functions. To address this issue, a group of multidisciplinary experts has proposed a naming framework and recommendations to help researchers better understand and describe the different states and functions of microglia.
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Miguel Seabra, Ana S. Falcao, Mafalda Lopes-da-Silva, Pedro Antas, Ana C. Fradinho, Luisa Lemos, Thomas Ciossek, Paul Nicklin, Clare Futter, Sandra Tenreiro
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Catarina Barros, Andreia Barateiro, Alexandre Neto, Beatriz Soromenho, Afonso P. Bastos, Joana M. Mateus, Sara Xapelli, Ana M. Sebastiao, Dora Brites, Luis Graca, Adelaide Fernandes
Summary: Studies have shown a correlation between excessive S100B and demyelination in multiple sclerosis. This research highlights the potential of using S100B-neutralizing small-molecule pentamidine as a therapeutic target to reduce damage and promote recovery in chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)