Michelle Monje

Activity-gated exocytosis drives myelin remodeling required for adult learning

This study identifies activity-dependent exocytosis in mature oligodendrocytes as a mechanism driving myelin remodeling necessary for adult learning.

Neural signatures of glioma progression using implanted neural interfaces

Microwire recordings in glioma-bearing mice track tumor progression: gamma power rises in glioblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma xenografts, and low-gamma trajectories predict tumor growth rate (R^2 0.63).

Gliomas phenocopy an inborn error of metabolism to drive neuronal activity and tumor growth

This study identifies GAA accumulation in gliomas as a driver of neuronal activity and tumor growth, linking cancer metabolism to neuroscience through GABAA receptor activation.

Juvenile influenza can impair myelin development and adult behavior through chemokine signaling in mice

This study shows that juvenile influenza infection in mice impairs myelin development and leads to lasting cognitive and behavioral issues, which can be mitigated by inhibiting the chemokine receptor CCR3.

Intranasal Anti-CD3 Antibody Treatment Attenuates Post-COVID Neuroinflammation and Enhances Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Cognitive Function in Mice

This study shows nasal anti-CD3 antibody treatment reduces neuroinflammation, enhances neurogenesis, and improves cognitive function in a mouse model of Long COVID.

KIF5A downregulation in spinal muscular atrophy links axonal regeneration defects with ALS

This study shows that SMN deficiency reduces KIF5A in SMA, impairing axon regeneration, and links SMA and ALS through KIF5A stabilization by SMN.

Dysregulated Microglial Synaptic Engulfment in Diffuse Midline Glioma

This study investigates how microglial synaptic engulfment is dysregulated in diffuse midline glioma, leading to imbalanced excitatory-inhibitory synapse ratios and increased neuronal hyperexcitability.

Serotonergic neuron-glioma interactions drive high-grade glioma pathophysiology

This study shows serotonergic neurons promote high-grade glioma growth via 5HT2A receptor activation, with psychedelic drugs enhancing this effect.

Neuroligin-3 interaction with CSPG4 regulates normal and malignant glial precursors through PIEZO1

This study identifies the NLGN3-CSPG4-PIEZO1 axis as a regulator of glial precursor cell state and glioma proliferation through mechanosensitive signaling.

Two parallel lineage-committed progenitors contribute to the developing brain

The paper identifies two lineage-committed progenitors in the developing brain that generate forebrain/midbrain and hindbrain regions, and demonstrates their distinct chromatin landscapes and differentiation potential.

Cholinergic Neuronal Activity Promotes Diffuse Midline Glioma Growth through Muscarinic Signaling

This study shows that cholinergic neuron activity promotes both healthy OPC and DMG proliferation through muscarinic receptors, with specific nuclei driving growth in different brain regions.

Immunotherapy-related cognitive impairment after CAR T cell therapy in mice

This study shows that CAR T cell therapy in mice causes cognitive impairment through CNS immune dysregulation, microglial reactivity, and disrupted oligodendroglial homeostasis.

GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses in diffuse midline gliomas

This study identifies functional GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses in diffuse midline gliomas that promote tumor proliferation and shows that drugs modulating GABAergic signaling affect glioma growth.

Myelin plasticity in ventral tegmental area is required for opioid reward

The paper shows that myelin plasticity in the ventral tegmental area, regulated by dopaminergic activity, is essential for opioid reward and dopamine release dynamics.

Glioma synapses recruit mechanisms of adaptive plasticity

This study shows that BDNF-TrkB signaling promotes malignant synaptic plasticity in gliomas, enhancing tumor progression through mechanisms similar to long-term potentiation in the healthy brain.

Epigenetic neural glioblastoma enhances synaptic integration and predicts therapeutic vulnerability

The paper identifies an epigenetic neural signature in glioblastoma that correlates with poor prognosis and therapeutic vulnerability.

Inhibiting USP16 rescues stem cell aging and memory in an Alzheimer's model

The paper shows reducing USP16 improves neural precursor cell function and memory in an Alzheimer's model by affecting Cdkn2a and BMP signaling.

Mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause multi-lineage cellular dysregulation and myelin loss in the brain

Respiratory-restricted SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice, without brain virus, drives white matter microglial reactivity, impaired neurogenesis, oligodendrocyte depletion and myelin loss lasting at least 7 weeks.

Maladaptive myelination promotes epileptogenesis in absence epilepsy

This study shows that maladaptive myelination driven by absence seizures contributes to epileptogenesis in two mouse models of absence epilepsy.

Monosynaptic tracing maps brain-wide afferent oligodendrocyte precursor cell connectivity

The paper maps brain-wide afferent connectivity to oligodendrocyte precursor cells using monosynaptic tracing in adult mice, revealing extensive inputs from functionally interconnected cortical and thalamic regions.

Targeting neuronal activity-regulated neuroligin-3 dependency for high-grade glioma therapy

This study shows that targeting Nlgn3 secretion via ADAM10 inhibitors can block high-grade glioma growth in mouse models.