Somin Kwon, Michiyo Iba, Eliezer Masliah and Changyoun Kim

Innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 2 has been implicated in synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Our recent work demonstrates the pathogenic interaction between α-syn and TLR2 on microglia and neurons to modulate neuroinflammation, α-synuclein deposition, and neurodegeneration. Modulation of TLR2 thus holds significant promise as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy against synucleinopathies.

Uram Jin, Soo Jin Park and Sang Myun Park

The brain contains the highest level of cholesterol in the body and abnormal cholesterol metabolism links also many neurodegenerative disorders. Because cholesterol metabolism in both peripheral tissue and the brain are quite different, cholesterol metabolism associated with neurodegeneration should be examined separately from that in peripheral tissues. Here, we review cholesterol metabolism in the brain and peripheral tissues and summarize the relationship between alterations in cholesterol metabolism and PD pathogenesis is reviewed.

Sanggeon Park, Jeong-Woo Sohn, Jeiwon Cho and Yeowool Huh

Conditions affecting bursting properties were analyzed with computational modeling, since maintaining specific thalamic bursting properties is suggested to be critical for gating sensory information. Characteristics of inhibitory input, the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs, and excitatory inputs delivered at different dendritic locations affected thalamic bursting properties, which determines modulation power.

Jihyun Noh and Jun-mo Chung

Zinc-induced augmentation of firing activity was mediated through the inhibition of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels with contributions from voltage-gated L-type calcium channels (VGCCs) and ryanodine receptors, as well as by the activation of VGCCs via melastatin-like transient receptor potential channels.

Junsung Woo, Hyejin Yang, Minseok Yoon, Changdev G. Gadhe, Ae Nim Pae, Suengmok Cho and C. Justin Lee

3-carene, a phytoncide and a bicyclic monoterpene of the pine tree oils, shows sleep-enhancing effects by acting as a positive modulator for GABAA-BZD receptor.

So Hyeon Park, Yoo Sung Song, Byung Seok Moon, Byung Chul Lee, Hyun Soo Park and Sang Eun Kim

This study demonstrates that [123I]FP-CIT SPECT may be a useful preclinical technique for detecting increases in synaptic DA availability induced by haloperidol treatment in both the midbrain and the striatum, with results comparable to those obtained by in vivo microdialysis.

Su Bin Cho, Won Sik Eum, Min Jea Shin, Hyun Jung Kwon, Jung Hwan Park, Yeon Joo Choi, Jinseu Park, Kyu Hyung Han, Ju Hyeon Kang, Duk-Soo Kim, Sung-Woo Cho, Dae Won Kim and Soo Young Choi

Although aldose reductase (AR) have been considered as therapeutic agents for ischemia, the limitation is to deliver of this protein into target cells. Thus, protein transduction domain fused cell permeable Tat-AR fusion protein may overcome this challenge and help to realize the potential of AR for application as a therapeutic protein. In this study, we found that Tat-AR protein transduced into hippocampal CA1 region, passing through the BBB, and markedly inhibited hippocampal neuronal cell death induced by ischemic injury. Therefore, we suggest that Tat-AR protein could be used as potential therapeutic agent for ischemic injury.

Mina Hwang, Myung-Hoon Han, Hyun-Hee Park, Hojin Choi, Kyu-Yong Lee, Young Joo Lee, Jae Min Kim, Jin Hwan Cheong, Je Il Ryu, Kyueng-Whan Min, Young-Ha Oh, Yong Ko and Seong-Ho Koh

Our results may suggest a possible connection between LGR5 and its downstream signaling and neuroblastoma and brain tumors such as meningioma and pituitary adenoma. We hypothesized that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by LGR5 activation may activate the hnRNP family and this process may result in hyperactivation of alternative pre-mRNA processing in human meningioma and pituitary adenoma.