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Two recent papers reveal that the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated proteins ARC andDrosophila melanogasterdArc1 auto-assemble into mRNA-containing, virus-like capsids that are released by neurons in exosomal vesicles and that can be endocytosed at the postsynaptic compartment.
Human-gained enhancers (regulatory elements in the human genome that are more active in the human lineage) are shown to regulate progenitor proliferation in the outer subventricular zone, an area that is substantially larger in humans compared with other primates.
In mice, consumption of a high-salt diet induces accumulation of T helper 17 lymphocytes in the gut, leading to a rise in plasma interleukin-17 levels as well as neurovascular dysfunction and cognitive deficits.
The human brain undergoes rapid development during the first 2 years of life. Here, Gilmore and colleagues give an overview of recent neuroimaging studies of the developmental trajectories of brain structure and function in the first years after birth.
The changes in spinal cord excitability proposed to drive neuropathic pain have been linked to alterations in microglial function. Inoue and Tsuda describe our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved and consider implications for therapeutic approaches to chronic pain.
The brain regulates adipose tissue metabolism through sympathetic efferent pathways; in turn, adipose tissues relay energy-status information to the brain. This Review gives an overview of interactions between the brain and adipose tissues, with a particular focus on leptin as a regulator of these communications.
How are synapses optimally strengthened or weakened to improve network performance? Roelfsema and Holtmaat provide an overview of factors that influence synaptic plasticity, particularly in deep, multilayered biological networks, and present a specific framework in which neuromodulators and feedback connections may interact to selectively potentiate synapses responsible for rewarded action.
