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J Neurosci 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Increasing loss of structure and function of neurons and decline in cognitive function is commonly seen during the progression of neurologic diseases, although the causes and initial symptoms of individual diseases are distinct. This observation suggests a convergence of common degenerative features. In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the expression of expanded CUG RNA induces neurotransmission dysfunction before axon and dendrite degeneration and reduced MBNL2 expression associated with aberrant alternative splicing. Read More

J Neurosci 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033

Oxytocin (Oxt) neurons regulate diverse physiological responses via direct connections with different neural circuits. However, the lack of comprehensive input-output wiring diagrams of Oxt neurons and their quantitative relationship with Oxt receptor (Oxtr) expression presents challenges to understanding circuit-specific Oxt functions. Here, we establish a whole-brain distribution and anatomic connectivity map of Oxt neurons, and their relationship with Oxtr expression using high-resolution 3D mapping methods in adult male and female mice. Read More

J Neurosci 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China

Synaptic abnormality is an important pathologic feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and responsible for various behavioral defects in these neurodevelopmental disorders. Microglia are the major immune cells in the brain and also play an important role in synapse refinement. Although dysregulated synaptic pruning by microglia during the brain development has been associated with ASDs, the underlying mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2022 May;10(5)

Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

Background: Long-term prognosis of WHO grade II, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutated low-grade glioma (LGG) is poor due to high risks of recurrence and malignant transformation into high-grade glioma. Immunotherapy strategies are attractive given the relatively intact immune system of patients with LGG and the slow tumor growth rate. However, accumulation of the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG) in IDH-mutated gliomas leads to suppression of inflammatory pathways in the tumor microenvironment, thereby contributing to the 'cold' tumor phenotype. Read More

Mol Pharmacol 2022 May 23. Epub 2022 May 23.

Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States

PEN is an abundant neuropeptide that activates GPR83, a G protein-coupled receptor that is considered a novel therapeutic target due to its roles in regulation of feeding, reward, and anxiety-related behaviors. The major form of PEN in the brain is 22 residues in length. Previous studies have identified shorter forms of PEN in mouse brain and neuroendocrine cells; these shorter forms were named PEN18, PEN19 and PEN20, with the number reflecting the length of the peptide. Read More