Evidence that gene×environment interactions can reflect differential sensitivity to the environmental context, rather than risk or resilience, is increasing. To test this model, we examined the genetic contribution to indiscriminate social behavior, in the setting of a randomized controlled trial of foster care compared to institutional rearing. Children enrolled in the Bucharest Early Interven...

Changes of mRNA levels of GDNF and its recently discovered congeners persephin, neurturin, artemin in the striatum of lesioned side following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion in rodents were investigated with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Two weeks after the lesions were made, mRNA levels of GDNF family members, except for neurturin, were significantly increased in the striatum on the side ipsilat...

[This corrects the article on p. 306 in vol. 11, PMID: 29075179.].

Recent studies indicate that molecules released by glia can induce synapse formation. However, what induces glia to produce such signals, their identity, and their in vivo relevance remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that supporting cells of the vestibular organ--cells that have many characteristics of glia--promote synapse formation only when induced by neuron-derived signals. Furth...

Persistence is a characteristic attribute of long-term memories (LTMs). However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that mediate this process. We recently showed that persistence of LTM requires a late protein synthesis- and BDNF-dependent phase in the hippocampus. Here, we show that intrahippocampal delivery of BDNF reverses the deficit in memory persistence caused by inhibition of...

Activity-dependent secretion of BDNF is important in mediating synaptic plasticity, but how it is achieved is unclear. Here we uncover a sorting motif receptor-mediated mechanism for regulated secretion of BDNF. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed a putative sorting motif, I(16)E(18)I(105)D(106), in BDNF, which when mutated at the acidic residues resulted in missorting of proBDNF to the c...

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and a biochemical reduction of striatal dopamine levels. Despite the lack of fully understanding of the etiology of Parkinson's disease, accumulating evidences suggest that Parkinson's disease may be caused by the insufficient support of neurotrophic fac...

During peripheral nervous system development, Schwann cells are precisely matched to the axons that they support. This is mediated by axonal neuregulins that are essential for Schwann cell survival and differentiation. Here, we show that sensory and motor axons rapidly release heparin-binding forms of neuregulin in response to Schwann cell-derived neurotrophic factors in a dose-dependent manner...