Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Nerli, Jenny Kretzschmar, Tommaso Bianucci, Mauricio Rocha-Martins, Christoph Zechner, Caren Norden
Summary: Correct nervous system development requires the timely differentiation of progenitor cells into neurons. The fate decisions of neurogenic progenitors during development have been studied using live imaging in zebrafish retina. It was found that progenitor divisions produce one daughter cell with deterministic fate and one with probabilistic fate. Interfering with the deterministic branch affects lineage progression, while interfering with fate probabilities of the probabilistic branch results in a broader range of fate possibilities. A simple gene regulatory network can predict these fate decision probabilities during wild-type development. These findings highlight lineage flexibility in ensuring robust development of the retina and other tissues.
Article
Developmental Biology
Muhammad Khadeesh Bin Imtiaz, Lars N. Royall, Daniel Gonzalez-Bohorquez, Sebastian Jessberger
Summary: The asymmetric segregation of cellular components regulates the fate and behavior of somatic stem cells. This study shows that human neural progenitor cells establish an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) diffusion barrier during cell division, allowing for asymmetric segregation of damaged proteins and potentially influencing the fate and behavior of these cells.
Article
Developmental Biology
Muhammad Khadeesh bin Imtiaz, Lars N. Royall, Daniel Gonzalez-Bohorquez, Sebastian Jessberger
Summary: Research has shown that human neural progenitor cells establish an ER diffusion barrier during cell division, allowing for asymmetric segregation of cellular components to regulate the fate and behavior of the cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Denise E. Allen, Kevin C. Donohue, Cathryn R. Cadwell, David Shin, Matthew G. Keefe, Vikaas S. Sohal, Tomasz J. Nowakowski
Summary: The progenitors of the human neocortex are located in the ventricular and outer subventricular zones. This study demonstrates that astrocytes derived from these zones populate distinct layers and exhibit morphological and molecular differences.
Article
Neurosciences
Anuradha Yadav, Ankit Tandon, Brashket Seth, Shweta Goyal, Sangh Jyoti Singh, Shashi Kant Tiwari, Swati Agarwal, Saumya Nair, Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi
Summary: Exposure to cypermethrin reduces neural stem cell proliferation, decreases the generation of mature neurons, and increases the number of glial cells and apoptotic cells in the hippocampus, leading to neurogenic imbalance and neurodegeneration, ultimately causing cognitive dysfunction in rats.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Xuan Jiang, Siqing Liu, Ya-Ru Fu, Xi-Juan Liu, Xiao-Jun Li, Bo Yang, Hai-Fei Jiang, Zhang-Zhou Shen, Endalkachew Ashenafi Alemu, Pavel Vazquez, Yaping Tang, Mari Kaarbo, Michael A. A. McVoy, Simon Rayner, Min-Hua Luo
Summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in fetal brains can cause neurodevelopmental disorders by targeting neural progenitor cells (NPCs). This study investigated the expression of cellular and viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in HCMV-infected NPCs during early infection. Several differentially expressed cellular miRNAs and upregulated HCMV miRNAs were identified. Deep learning methods were used to predict miRNA targets and their associations with cellular mRNA expression changes. The study revealed the involvement of these miRNAs in neurodevelopmental and cell-cycle processes, and confirmed the regulatory role of hcmv-miR-US25-1 on the Jag1 gene, an important factor for neurogenesis.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jiajun Yang, Xiaoqing Hu, Jian Ma, Song-Hai Shi
Summary: Centrosomes are the primary microtubule-organizing centers in animal cells, playing a crucial role in regulating cellular behaviors and signaling pathways. They undergo semi-conservative duplication during cell division, resulting in two centrosomes with different ages and properties. Mutations in centrosome proteins are strongly linked to human microcephaly, emphasizing the significance of intact centrosomes in supporting cortical neurogenesis. Advances in understanding centrosome regulation and function in mammalian cortical neural progenitors provide insights into cortical neurogenesis and related disease mechanisms.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Riikka Makila, Brecht Wybouw, Ondrej Smetana, Leo Vainio, Anna Sole-Gil, Munan Lyu, Lingling Ye, Xin Wang, Riccardo Siligato, Mark K. Jenness, Angus S. Murphy, Ari Pekka Mahonen
Summary: Vascular cambium contains bifacial stem cells that produce secondary xylem and secondary phloem. The fate of stem cell daughters depends on the positioning of an auxin signalling maximum within the cambium, which is regulated by gibberellin and PIN1-dependent polar auxin transport.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Nicolas Dray, Laure Mancini, Udi Binshtok, Felix Cheysson, Willy Supatto, Pierre Mahou, Sebastien Bedu, Sara Ortica, Emmanuel Than-Trong, Monika Krecsmarik, Sebastien Herbert, Jean-Baptiste Masson, Jean-Yves Tinevez, Gabriel Lang, Emmanuel Beaurepaire, David Sprinzak, Laure Bally-Cuif
Summary: The study shows that neural stem cells coordinate their decision to divide in the adult zebrafish brain using spatiotemporally resolved local feedback signals, including short-range inhibition from transient neural progenitors and a dispersion effect from the dividing NSCs themselves. These signals are linked by lineage progression and control the spatiotemporal distribution of output neurons, generating self-propagating dynamics that maintain NSC population homeostasis.
Article
Developmental Biology
Fion Shiau, Philip A. Ruzycki, Brian S. Clark
Summary: Recent advancements in high throughput single-cell RNA sequencing technology have allowed researchers to simultaneously study the transcriptomic profiles of thousands of individual cells in various species, including the retina. These studies have deepened our understanding of retinal development, progenitor cell competence, cell fate specification, and differentiation, while also pointing out outstanding questions in the field that could soon be addressed with advances in single-cell data generation and analysis.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ying Wang, Zicong Tan, Zhu Zhang, Peili Zhu, Sze Wah Tam, Zhang Zhang, Xiaoli Jiang, Kaili Lin, Linyuan Tian, Zhifeng Huang, Shiqing Zhang, Yung-Kang Peng, Ken Kin Lam Yung
Summary: This study reports for the first time the role of facet-dependent CeO2-mediated redox homeostasis in regulating self-renewal and differentiation of NPCs. Different crystal facets of CeO2 nanoparticles exhibit different catalase-like (CAT) activities, modulating the redox homeostasis and fate of NPCs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elia Magrinelli, Natalia Baumann, Robin Jan Wagener, Christelle Glangetas, Camilla Bellone, Denis Jabaudon, Esther Klingler
Summary: Neocortical excitatory neurons exhibit diverse cell types during development, and their fate is regulated by various factors. The study reveals that early neurons have heterogeneous fates, while later-born simultaneously-born neurons have more homogeneous fates. Single-cell gene expression analysis shows that early-born neurons exhibit molecular heterogeneity and initiate late-born neuron transcriptional programs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Sisu Han, Satoshi Okawa, Grey Atteridge Wilkinson, Hussein Ghazale, Lata Adnani, Rajiv Dixit, Ligia Tavares, Imrul Faisal, Matthew J. Brooks, Veronique Cortay, Dawn Zinyk, Adam Sivitilli, Saiqun Li, Faizan Malik, Yaroslav Ilnytskyy, Vladimir Espinosa Angarica, Jinghua Gao, Vorapin Chinchalongporn, Ana-Maria Oproescu, Lakshmy Vasan, Yacine Touahri, Luke Ajay David, Eko Raharjo, Jung-Woong Kim, Wei Wu, Waleed Rahmani, Jennifer Ai-wen Chan, Igor Kovalchuk, Liliana Attisano, Deborah Kurrasch, Colette Dehay, Anand Swaroop, Diogo S. Castro, Jeff Biernaskie, Antonio del Sol, Carol Schuurmans
Summary: The research reveals that Neurog2 and Ascl1 genes sustain neurogenic continuity and lissencephaly, while double+ NPCs show unique features of multipotency and play a key role in neurogenic symmetry and cortical folding.
Review
Neurosciences
Chiara Ossola, Nereo Kalebic
Summary: The development of the cerebral cortex is a complex process, and disturbances in the characteristics of neural progenitor cells are associated with cortical developmental abnormalities that can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Moawiah M. Naffaa, Rehan R. Khan, Chay T. Kuo, Henry H. Yin
Summary: This study identifies a neural circuit that regulates neurogenesis and cell proliferation in the lateral ventricle-subventricular zone. Glutamatergic projections from the anterior cingulate cortex and inhibitory projections from local interneurons modulate the activity of cholinergic neurons in the subependymal zone. Optogenetic stimulation and inhibition of this circuit can control neurogenesis in the ventral SVZ.
Article
Neurosciences
Quentin Leyrolle, Fanny Decoeur, Cyril Dejean, Galadriel Briere, Stephane Leon, Ioannis Bakoyiannis, Emilie Baroux, Tony-Lee Sterley, Clementine Bosch-Bouju, Lydie Morel, Camille Amadieu, Cynthia Lecours, Marie-Kim St-Pierre, Maude Bordeleau, Veronique De Smedt-Peyrusse, Alexandran Sere, Leslie Schwendimann, Stephane Gregoire, Lionel Bretillon, Niyazi Acar, Corinne Joffre, Guillaume Ferreira, Raluca Uricaru, Patricia Thebault, Pierre Gressens, Marie-Eve Tremblay, Sophie Laye, Agnes Nadjar
Summary: Westernized dietary habits leading to reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs may be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and disruptions in brain functional connectivity. Lifelong n-3 PUFA deficiency can interfere with oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination processes, resulting in long-term detrimental effects on white matter organization and hippocampus-prefrontal functional connectivity. Promoting developmental myelination through clemastine could rescue memory deficits in n-3 PUFA deficient animals.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Cindy Bokobza, Pooja Joshi, Anne-Laure Schang, Zsolt Csaba, Valerie Faivre, Amelie Montane, Anne Galland, Anouk Benmamar-Badel, Emmanuelle Bosher, Sophie Lebon, Leslie Schwendimann, Shyamala Mani, Pascal Dournaud, Valerie Besson, Bobbi Fleiss, Pierre Gressens, Juliette Van Steenwinckel
Summary: The study highlights the importance of miRNA-146b-5p in regulating microglial activation and white matter injury, which could be targeted to prevent and treat perinatal brain injuries effectively.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Luisa Klein, Juliette Van Steenwinckel, Bobbi Fleiss, Till Scheuer, Christoph Buehrer, Valerie Faivre, Cindy Bokobza, Sophie Lemoine, Corinne Blugeon, Leslie Schwendimann, Zsolt Csaba, Dulcie A. Vousden, Jason P. Lerch, Anthony C. Vernon, Pierre Gressens, Thomas Schmitz
Summary: Preterm infants often exhibit cerebellar pathologies, which are associated with motor impairments, lower IQ, and poor language skills. This study used a mouse model to investigate the causes of cerebellar damage in inflammation-induced encephalopathy of prematurity. The results suggest that the systemic administration of IL-1 beta leads to specific reductions in cerebellar gray and white matter volumes, likely due to oligodendrocyte pathology downstream of microglial activation. These findings highlight the importance of identifying protective strategies targeting cerebellar microglia activation and sustained type I interferon signaling.
Review
Psychiatry
Pierre Ellul, Eric Acquaviva, Hugo Peyre, Michelle Rosenzwajg, Pierre Gressens, David Klatzmann, Richard Delorme
Summary: This study investigates the association between autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (AID) in parents and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in their children. The results show that mothers and fathers with AID are associated with an increased risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in their offspring, but the strength of this association varies in AID-specific analyses.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ghislaine Garrel, Claude Rouch, David L'Hote, Salma Tazi, Nadim Kassis, Frank Giton, Julien Dairou, Pascal Dournaud, Pierre Gressens, Christophe Magnan, Celine Cruciani-Guglielmacci, Joelle Cohen-Tannoudji
Summary: Our study found that high-fat diet-induced defects in gonadotrope activity in male rats occurred despite a lack of pituitary inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Daniel Alonso-Alconada, Pierre Gressens, Xavier Golay, Nicola J. Robertson
Summary: Hypoxia-ischemia can lead to a decrease in cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the neurogenic niche of the neonatal piglet, which may hinder the replacement of lost neurons and overall repair.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Geraldine Favrais, Cindy Bokobza, Elie Saliba, Sylvie Chalon, Pierre Gressens
Summary: Premature birth can lead to specific white matter damage (WMD), which is associated with neurological outcomes. These white matter abnormalities are part of a larger brain damage known as encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP). The most common form of WMD in premature infants is a global reduction in white matter volume. This review focuses on the alterations in the oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage associated with WMD in infants with EoP and highlights the role of systemic inflammation in inducing these alterations.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cindy Bokobza, Alice Jacquens, Manuela Zinni, Valerie Faivre, Jennifer Hua, David Guenoun, Caroline Userovici, Shyamala Mani, Vincent Degos, Pierre Gressens, Juliette Van Steenwinckel
Summary: Microglia, as brain resident macrophages, play crucial roles in response to environmental stress and maintaining brain homeostasis. This study proposes a reproducible method for isolating microglia from neonate pups and demonstrates microglial activation using various stimuli. The findings provide insights into studying and treating neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Sarah Farcy, Alexandra Albert, Pierre Gressens, Alexandre D. Baffet, Vincent El Ghouzzi
Summary: Understanding how the brain develops and achieves its final size is a fascinating issue. Animal models have been valuable in studying cortical development, but human specificities require appropriate models. The development of brain organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) now allows for the modeling of human microcephaly and the study of its cellular and molecular mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Naffaa, Romain Magny, Anne Regazzetti, Juliette Van Steenwinckel, Pierre Gressens, Olivier Laprevote, Nicolas Auzeil, Anne-Laure Schang
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive lipidomic analysis was performed on myelin-enriched fractions prepared from mouse brains at two developmental stages. The results showed profound remodeling in phospholipid subclasses during myelination, including a decrease in phosphatidylcholine content and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol contents, accompanied by an increased proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids.
Article
Developmental Biology
Alexandra E. Wehmeyer, Katrin M. Schuele, Alexandra Conrad, Chiara M. Schroeder, Simone Probst, Sebastian J. Arnold
Summary: The use of functional genetics in mouse embryonic stem cells to generate chimeric gastruloids has expanded the experimental potential, allowing for the re-expression of Eomes and brachyury functions, as well as the discovery of new phenotypes. Chimeric gastruloids serve as an efficient tool for studying mammalian gastrulation, showcasing advantages such as tissue sorting preferences and cell non-autonomous effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Tessandier, Ilkay Basak Uysal, Baptiste Elie, Christian Selinger, Claire Bernat, Vanina Boue, Sophie Grasset, Soraya Groc, Massilva Rahmoun, Bastien Reyne, Noemi Bender, Marine Bonneau, Christelle Graf, Vincent Tribout, Vincent Foulongne, Jacques Ravel, Tim Waterboer, Christophe Hirtz, Ignacio G. Bravo, Jacques Reynes, Michel Segondy, Carmen Lia Murall, Nathalie Boulle, Tsukushi Kamiya, Samuel Alizon
Summary: The study examines the association between the use of different types of menstrual products and microbial, immunological, demographic, and behavioral indicators. The results suggest a potential link between the use of menstrual cups and fungal genital infection, highlighting the possible influence of menstrual products on menstrual health.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Cindy Bokobza, Alice Jacquens, David Guenoun, Blandine Bianco, Anne Galland, Maxime Pispisa, Alexandra Cruz, Manuela Zinni, Valerie Faivre, Anne Roumier, Sophie Lebon, Tania Vitalis, Zsolt Csaba, Tifenn Le Charpentier, Leslie Schwendimann, Pierrette Young-Ten, Vincent Degos, Patricia Monteiro, Pascal Dournaud, Pierre Gressens, Juliette Van Steenwinckel
Summary: Approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely every year, and many of them will face motor and cognitive deficits in their lifetime. Systemic inflammation-induced neuroinflammation is a prominent process of perinatal brain injuries, especially white matter injuries (WMI). Serotonin and its receptors, particularly HTR7, play a significant role in inflammation regulation. The study suggests that targeting HTR7 may serve as an innovative therapeutic strategy to protect the developing brain from preterm brain injuries.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Juliette Van Steenwinckel, Cindy Bokobza, Mireille Laforge, Isabelle K. Shearer, Veronique E. Miron, Rejane Rua, Samantha M. Matta, Elisa L. Hill-Yardin, Bobbi Fleiss, Pierre Gressens
Summary: Approximately one in 10 babies are born preterm, and up to 50% of preterm infants develop encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP) that increases the risk of lifelong cognitive defects. Glial cells play a key role in the development of a healthy brain, but glial dysfunction is a hallmark of EoP. However, our understanding of glial biology is not sufficient for the development of effective neuroregenerative therapies.