Neurons News and Research

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Therapeutic potential of iPS cells may be limited by reprogramming errors and genomic instability

In the past few months, a slew of papers have indicated that the therapeutic potential of a promising type of stem cell, called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, might be limited by reprogramming errors and genomic instability. iPS cells are engineered by reprogramming fully differentiated adult cells, often skin cells, back to a primitive, embryonic-like state.

9 Mar 2011

Unique gene therapy to combat Parkinson's disease

Physicians at Rush University Medical Center are testing a unique gene therapy product called CERE-120 to evaluate if its use can improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Rush is one of 11 sites in the U.S. and the only site in Illinois enrolling patients into the new, double-blinded trial.

9 Mar 2011

New insight into multiple sclerosis

Scientists have blocked harmful immune cells from entering the brain in mice with a condition similar to multiple sclerosis.

8 Mar 2011

CDI announces publication of footprint-free iPSCs production method in PLoS ONE journal

Cellular Dynamics International, the world's largest producer of human tissue cells for drug discovery and safety testing, today announced the publication of research demonstrating an efficient and scalable method of creating DNA integration-free, or footprint-free, induced pluripotent stem cells under a feeder-free condition using chemically defined media.

5 Mar 2011

Novel gene therapy can promote removal of amyloid plaques and prevent Alzheimer's disease

Gene therapy that boosts the ability of brain cells to gobble up toxic proteins prevents development of Alzheimer's disease in mice that are predestined to develop it, report researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. They say the treatment - which is given just once - could potentially do the same in people at the beginning stages of the disease.

5 Mar 2011

Scientists detail role of TDP-43 in ALS pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or more popularly, Lou Gehrig's disease, is a notorious neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive deterioration of brain and spinal cord neurons, resulting in the gradual but catastrophic loss of muscle control and ultimately, death.

5 Mar 2011

Researchers transform human embryonic stem cell into neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease

Northwestern Medicine researchers for the first time have transformed a human embryonic stem cell into a critical type of neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease and is a major cause of memory loss.

4 Mar 2011

Lactate plays critical role in formation of long-term memory

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that lactate, a type of energy fuel in the brain, plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. These findings have important implications for common illnesses like Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, aging-related memory impairment and diabetes. The research is published in the March 4th issue of the journal Cell.

4 Mar 2011

Study demonstrates neuronal loss during initial stages of HIV infection in mouse model

A new mouse model closely resembles how the human body reacts to early HIV infection and is shedding light on nerve cell damage related to the disease, according to researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.

3 Mar 2011

Scientists discover specific type of human cell to treat spinal cord injuries

For the first time, scientists discovered that a specific type of human cell, generated from stem cells and transplanted into spinal cord injured rats, provide tremendous benefit, not only repairing damage to the nervous system but helping the animals regain locomotor function as well.

2 Mar 2011

Neuralstem announces initiation of NSI-189 Phase Ia trial for major depressive disorder

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that the first subject was dosed yesterday in a Phase Ia trial to evaluate the safety of its drug, NSI-189, which is being developed for the treatment of major depressive disorder and other psychiatric indications. NSI-189 is the lead compound in Neuralstem's neurogenerative small molecule drug platform. This phase of the trial is in healthy volunteers and seeks to determine the maximum tolerated single dose.

2 Mar 2011

Scientists discover signaling pathway in brain to induce cellular leptin resistance

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a signaling pathway in the brain that's sufficient to induce cellular leptin resistance, a problem that decreases the body's ability to "hear" that it is full and should stop eating.

2 Mar 2011

Scientists discover new way to generate human motor nerve cells

Scientists have discovered a new way to generate human motor nerve cells in a development that will help research into motor neurone disease.

2 Mar 2011

Experimental drug may help preserve neurological function in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest

An experimental drug that targets a brain system that controls inflammation might help preserve neurological function in people who survive sudden cardiac arrest, new research suggests.

2 Mar 2011

Two genes linked to binge drinking

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may open doors to new, more effective treatments for excessive alcohol drinking. The scientists found that manipulating two receptors in the brain, GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), "caused profound reduction" of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been bred and trained to drink excessively. The study was published online the week of Feb. 28 in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

1 Mar 2011

New study: Immune molecules can regulate synaptic connections in brain

The number of connections between nerve cells in the brain can be regulated by an immune system molecule, according to a new study from UC Davis. The research, published Feb. 27 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, reveals a potential link between immunity, infectious disease and conditions such as schizophrenia or autism.

27 Feb 2011

Preclinical data of Zalicus sodium channel compound published in journal PAIN

Zalicus Inc. today announced the publication of preclinical data in the journal PAIN. The paper describes the activity of Z212, a novel proprietary small organic compound that acts to modulate Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 sodium channels and to reduce neuropathic pain by targeting the hyper-excitability associated with chronic pain signaling pathways.

25 Feb 2011

Role of serotonin in autism spectrum disorders

Mouse models are yielding important clues about the nature of autism spectrum disorders, which impact an estimated one in 110 children in the U.S. In labs at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, researchers are studying strains of mice that inherently mimic the repetitive and socially impaired behaviors present in these disorders.

25 Feb 2011

Study: Rare genetic mutations may provide clues to improve treatment for schizophrenia

Scientists are eyeing a rare genetic glitch for clues to improved treatments for some people with schizophrenia - even though they found the mutation in only one third of 1 percent of patients.

25 Feb 2011

Scientists suggest that lateral habenula can be a prime locus of human depression

A team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory and UC San Diego has collected evidence suggesting that a previously overlooked portion of the brain could be a prime locus of human depression.

24 Feb 2011

Neurons News and Research

Therapeutic potential of iPS cells may be limited by reprogramming errors and genomic instability

Unique gene therapy to combat Parkinson's disease

New insight into multiple sclerosis

CDI announces publication of footprint-free iPSCs production method in PLoS ONE journal

Novel gene therapy can promote removal of amyloid plaques and prevent Alzheimer's disease

Scientists detail role of TDP-43 in ALS pathology

Researchers transform human embryonic stem cell into neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease

Lactate plays critical role in formation of long-term memory

Study demonstrates neuronal loss during initial stages of HIV infection in mouse model

Scientists discover specific type of human cell to treat spinal cord injuries

Neuralstem announces initiation of NSI-189 Phase Ia trial for major depressive disorder

Scientists discover signaling pathway in brain to induce cellular leptin resistance

Scientists discover new way to generate human motor nerve cells

Experimental drug may help preserve neurological function in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest

Two genes linked to binge drinking

New study: Immune molecules can regulate synaptic connections in brain

Preclinical data of Zalicus sodium channel compound published in journal PAIN

Role of serotonin in autism spectrum disorders

Study: Rare genetic mutations may provide clues to improve treatment for schizophrenia

Scientists suggest that lateral habenula can be a prime locus of human depression

Human iPSCs: A Full Guide to Advanced in Vitro Models and Applications eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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