Remyelination of chronic demyelinated lesions with directly induced neural stem cells.

The limited ability of CNS progenitor cells to differentiate into oligodendrocytes limits the repair of demyelinating lesions and contributes to the disability of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has emerged as a safe therapeutic approach in people with PMS, where it holds the promise of healing the injured CNS. However, the mechanisms by which NSC grafts could promote CNS remyelination need to be carefully assessed before their widespread clinical adoption.

Increased cholesterol synthesis drives neurotoxicity in patient stem cell-derived model of multiple sclerosis.

Senescent neural progenitor cells have been identified in brain lesions of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). However, their role in disease pathobiology and contribution to the lesion environment remains unclear. By establishing directly induced neural stem/progenitor cell (iNSC) lines from PMS patient fibroblasts, we studied their senescent phenotype in vitro.

Radical Scavenging Is Not Involved in Thymoquinone-Induced Cell Protection in Neural Oxidative Stress Models.

Thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound from seeds, is often described as a pharmacologically relevant compound with antioxidative properties, while the synthesis of TQ in the plant via oxidations makes it inapplicable for scavenging radicals. Therefore, the present study was designed to reassess the radical scavenging properties of TQ and explore a potential mode of action. The effects of TQ were studied in models with mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress induced by rotenone in N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells and rotenone/MPP in primary mesencephalic cells.

Transplantation of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) into chronically demyelinated corpus callosum ameliorates motor deficits.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) causes neurologic disability due to inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Immunosuppressive treatments can modify the disease course but do not effectively promote remyelination or prevent long term neurodegeneration. As a novel approach to mitigate chronic stage pathology, we tested transplantation of mouse induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) into the chronically demyelinated corpus callosum (CC) in adult mice.

Take the shortcut - direct conversion of somatic cells into induced neural stem cells and their biomedical applications.

Second-generation reprogramming of somatic cells directly into the cell type of interest avoids induction of pluripotency and subsequent cumbersome differentiation procedures. Several recent studies have reported direct conversion of human somatic cells into stably proliferating induced neural stem cells (iNSCs). Importantly, iNSCs are easier, faster, and more cost-efficient to generate than induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and also have a higher level of clinical safety.

Differential distribution of the sodium-activated potassium channels slick and slack in mouse brain.

The sodium-activated potassium channels Slick (Slo2.1, KCNT2) and Slack (Slo2.2, KCNT1) are high-conductance potassium channels of the Slo family.

Identification of potential novel interaction partners of the sodium-activated potassium channels Slick and Slack in mouse brain.

The sodium-activated potassium channels Slick (Slo2.1, KCNT2) and Slack (Slo2.2, KCNT1) are paralogous channels of the Slo family of high-conductance potassium channels.

Control of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis activity by the intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, SK4.

The anterior pituitary corticotroph is a major control point for the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the neuroendocrine response to stress. Although corticotrophs are known to be electrically excitable, ion channels controlling the electrical properties of corticotrophs are poorly understood. Here, we exploited a lentiviral transduction system to allow the unequivocal identification of live murine corticotrophs in culture.

Evaluation of cryopreserved donor skin viability: the experience of the regional tissue bank of Verona.

Background: Allogeneic human skin removed from cadaveric donors is the covering of choice for deep burns, since it accelerates the re-epithelialisation of autologous skin. In this study we evaluated the cellular viability of cryopreserved skin at the regional tissue bank of Verona (Italy).

Methods: From 1st June 2007 to 30th September 2007, tests of cutaneous cell viability were carried out on 21 consecutive skin donors using the MTT (tetrazolium salt) method on samples prior to freezing and on thawed samples after a period of cryopreservation.