Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zihao Deng, Marina R. Carpinelli, Tariq Butt, Graham W. Magor, Andrew C. Perkins, Stephen M. Jane
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between retinoic acid (RA) signaling and Grhl3-induced neural tube formation. The findings show that inhibition of RA signaling induces exencephaly and more severe spina bifida in mice lacking the Grhl3 gene. However, the timing of RA signaling inhibition does not affect the outcomes. These findings provide new insights into the understanding of neural tube defects (NTDs).
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Yan, Guang Wang, Xin Luo, Ping Zhang, Shuang Peng, Xin Cheng, Mengwei Wang, Xuesong Yang
Summary: Exposure to ZnO NPs may lead to developmental neural cell death, resulting in failure of neural tube closure and ultimately neural tube defects. Endoplasmic reticulum stress and increased intracellular calcium concentration may be key mechanisms in the neurotoxicity induced by ZnO NPs.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Harm J. Heusinkveld, Yvonne C. M. Staal, Nancy C. Baker, George Daston, Thomas B. Knudsen, Aldert Piersma
Summary: In recent years, there has been a significant advancement in the development and implementation of animal-free approaches to chemical and pharmaceutical hazard and risk assessment, focusing on human biology and physiology. Research has shown that neural tube closure is a crucial step in early human development and is highly sensitive to chemical disturbances in signaling pathways. By mapping out the molecular regulation of neural tube closure, researchers aim to understand the genetic signals and responses underlying critical cellular processes, with the ultimate goal of constructing mathematical models and computer simulations for predicting toxicology.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(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)
Review
Neurosciences
Peng Li, Yongchang Chen
Summary: Organoids are valuable tools for studying the structure and functions of organs and tissues, allowing simulation of various cellular interactions and processes. While progress has been made in using brain organoids to understand certain neurodevelopmental disorders, research on organoids in early neural development, particularly neural tube precursors, has been lacking attention. This review focuses on recent research progress on neural tube organoids, discussing challenges and potential solutions.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Neophytos Christodoulou, Paris A. Skourides
Summary: Neural tube closure is a crucial process in vertebrate embryogenesis, and defects in this process can lead to common birth defects. This study investigates the mechanical communication between the neural plate and the somitic mesoderm and its impact on tissue morphogenesis using Xenopus laevis embryos.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiujuan Ye, Yuanfei Wu, Jiamin Xu, Hui Liu, Huan Wang, Qingfeng Li, Qingqing Li, Aiguo Xuan
Summary: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is linked to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. The bioactive compound mangiferin (MGF) from mango has been reported to have effects on neuropsychiatric disorders. This study found that MGF enhances neuronal differentiation and proliferation of neural stem cells through PPAR beta, and DNA methylation is negatively correlated with the expression of neurogenesis genes. Further analysis revealed that PPAR beta increases demethylation of the Mash1 promoter by regulating DNA demethylation enzymes. Importantly, genetic deficiency of PPAR beta decreased hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice, which was rescued by Mash1 overexpression.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiyun Yang, Shen Li, Yan Zhang, Xiuwei Wang, Zhen Guan, Zhiqiang Zhu, Yingchao Liang, Lijiao Zhao, Jianhua Wang
Summary: Neural-tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects, and inositol deficiency is closely related to their occurrence. The activation of the BMP/Smad signaling pathway might play an important role in the development of NTDs induced by maternal Li2CO3 exposure via inositol deficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Victor Tarabykin
Summary: The study highlights the essential role of the SNAP23-VAMP8-Syntaxin1B complex in the establishment of cell polarity in neuronal progenitors by mediating membrane targeting of N-cadherin and formation of adherence junction complexes.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(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
Cell Biology
Kwantae Kim, Jameson Orvis, Alberto Stolfi
Summary: Pax3/7 factors play crucial roles in the development of the nervous system in vertebrates and are also involved in similar functions in the model tunicate Ciona. The study reveals that Pax3/7 is expressed in the neural plate borders and central nervous system after neural tube closure, playing a conserved role in neural tube closure and neuron specification. These results suggest that the key functions of Pax3/7 in neural tube development are evolutionarily ancient, dating back to the common ancestor of vertebrates and tunicates.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Hao Wei, Yajun Gu, Ao Li, Panpan Song, Dingding Liu, Feihu Sun, Xiaofeng Ma, Xiaoyun Qian
Summary: In this study, a stable three-dimensional conductive hydrogel was prepared by cross-linking MXenes to Matrigel hydrogel. The conductive hydrogel promotes the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs, providing new strategies for neural tissue engineering.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2024)
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
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Le Zhang, Qingfeng Li, Huan Wang, Yuanfei Wu, Xiujuan Ye, Zhuo Gong, Qingqing Li, Aiguo Xuan
Summary: This study found that the antidiabetic drug metformin promotes neurogenesis through Gadd45g-mediated DNA demethylation, which contributes to its antidepressive effects. The findings propose Gadd45g regulation of neurogenesis as a novel antidepressant strategy.