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Oligodendrocytes are derived from a subtype of glia called oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). The potential functions of OPCs beyond oligodendrogenesis however, have remained elusive. In their latest study, Auguste et al. demonstrate that OPCs could play a regulatory role in synaptic connectivity in the developing and adult mouse visual cortex - a function that is independent of oligodendrogenesis.

The accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain is an established feature of Alzheimer’s disease, however mechanisms that regulate Aβ accumulation are not fully understood. In a recent study, Wang et al show that Aβ accumulation in neurons is tightly regulated by cholesterol production in astrocytes. This finding paves the way for future work that will establish whether the selective removal of Aβ by targeting this mechanism has therapeutic potential.

The progressive loss of CD4 + T cells has been recognised as being central to HIV-1 pathogenesis, however a precise understanding of the underlying mechanisms and, consequently, improved therapies have yet to be achieved. Zhang et al. have recently shown in HIV-1 patients that the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, which plays a key role in innate immunity, is a crucial mediator of the loss of CD4 + T cells. This advance could inform the development of innovative anti-HIV-1 therapies.

There is a continual need to develop new therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders such as Schizophrenia, and identifying the underlying molecular processes remains challenging. Chadha et al. recently discovered a potential role for mTOR kinase activity disruption in Schizophrenia and further uncover the precise pathomechanism. Their study sheds further light on the role of mTOR in Schizophrenia and could inform the development of future therapeutic strategies for the condition.

It doesn’t take much to disrupt our sleep. Whilst we are aware of environmental factors that can disturb our circadian rhythms, the precise mechanisms that control molecular time cues have remained elusive. Beesley and co-workers demonstrate that diseases associated with cytoplasmic crowding affect the sleep-wake cycle. They also pinpoint a precise time-limiting step in the trafficking of the pacemaker protein PERIOD.

Exosomes are known to contain microRNAs (miRs). Here the authors show that dorsal root ganglion neurons release exosomes containing miR-21-5p, which contributes to inflammatory cell recruitment following peripheral nerve injury.

Glycans are a major composition of the cell surface that interacts with the surrounding environment. The ability to carry out glycan-binding profile studies has been mainly done with glycan arrays. However, glycan arrays are not easily adaptable for cell surface and in vivo glycan recognition assays. The Liquid Glycan Array (LiGA) reported recently by Sojitra et al. is an alternative glycan recognition assay that employs DNA barcoding, bioorthogonal ligation and deep sequencing technology. In LiGA, barcoded M13 virions are used to present glycans to allow rapid identification of binding partners based on sequence identity. This physical link between the glycan to the DNA sequence fitted in the phage genome provides an ingenious approach to maneuver glycan binding profile studies in various conditions.

A huge amount of intrigue surrounds the aging process. Senescence—the decreased likelihood of reproduction and the increased chance of mortality—is a hallmark of aging. The reduced ability of senescent cells to maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis) has been well-established in nematodes but this phenomenon had yet to be directly demonstrated in human cells. Sabath et al. recently provided compelling evidence that proteostasis collapse is indeed intrinsic to human cell senescence, which may have broad implications in the underlying processes of human aging.

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has taken on new meaning for the fields of chemistry and biology. DNA origami describes the folding of DNA strands to form nanoscale structures. The ability to design and form complex structures at a nanoscale level has fuelled new ambitions of nanostructure applications in life science. These predefined shapes become base structures for the development of a higher and complex functional structure. In a recent paper, Stömmer et al., demonstrated the ability to design a macromolecular level transportation network that allows the movement of molecules at sub-molecular levels using DNA. A multi-layer DNA origami was used to build micrometer-long hollow tunnels akin to railway tunnels. An accompanying DNA piston travelled through the tunnels with constant motion. The system also accommodated the application of electric fields to fuel the motion of the pistons along the filaments simulating a nanoscale electric railway system. This could revolutionize the way molecular drug delivery systems can be perceived in the future.

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy, as well as increasing mortality, has been associated with long-lasting depressive behaviour, which is thought to be caused by infection-induced neuroinflammation in the brain. Saito et al. have recently demonstrated in a mouse model of sepsis that infiltrated regulatory T cells in the cerebral cortex mediate the resolution of neuroinflammation and alleviate anxious/depressive behaviour. Their study paves the way for further research that investigates the role of T cells in the underlying mechanisms mediating recovery of sepsis-associated depression.