(P27-026-23) In Vitro Effects of Myo-Inositol Supplementation on Adult Human Neural Progenitor Cells

Objectives: Hippocampal neural progenitor cells are responsible for the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region heavily involved in memory and learning. Impairments to neurogenesis have been tied to age- and disease-related cognitive decline and linked to oxidative stress states. When supplemented through diet, myo-inositol (M-I), the primary inositol found in brain tissue, crosses the blood brain barrier and has shown modulatory effects on brain structure and function. This study investigated the possible protective effects of M-I on hippocampal adult human neural progenitor cell (AHNP) proliferation and survival in vitro with and without an oxidative stress challenge.

Methods: AHNPs derived from the healthy human hippocampi were maintained in N2 medium with 5% fetal bovine serum, bovine pituitary extract, growth factors, and treated with myo-inositol for 7 days (1-2 mM) before inducing oxidative stress. For stressed experimental groups, cells were incubated for 24 hours with 200 µM hydrogen peroxide-containing media, while non-stressed groups remained under control media with no hydrogen peroxide. Cell survival was measured using Trypan Blue exclusion method, and proliferation rates were measured using the ethynyl-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and fluorescence microscopy. Quantified data was compared among experimental groups.

Results: Our data showed that M-I did not have significant effects on the survival and proliferation rate of the non-stressed AHNPs. However, myo-inositol treatments reversed decreases in both survival (both 1 mM and 2 mM treatments) and proliferation rate (2 mM) of AHNPs following stress induced by H₂O₂.

Conclusions: This study suggests that myo-inositol may be beneficial in fortifying hippocampal neural progenitor cells against oxidative stress, suggesting a neuroprotective role in aging neurogenesis. Future study is required to elucidate the mechanism underlying these observations.

Funding Sources: Supported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, cooperative agreement 58-8050-9-004., and the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation.