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Title: Blueberry extract attenuates the in vitro expression of oxidative stress and inflammation markers in adult human neural progenitor cells

Author
item BIELINSKI, DONNA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item Shukitt-Hale, Barbara
item STEINDLER, DENNIS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item ZHENG, TONG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Society for Neuroscience Abstracts and Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2019
Publication Date: 10/20/2019
Citation: Bielinski, D.F., Shukitt Hale, B., Steindler, D.A., Zheng, T. 2019. Blueberry extract attenuates the in vitro expression of oxidative stress and inflammation markers in adult human neural progenitor cells [abstract]. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts and Proceedings. 2019 Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting Program #208.14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The aging process impacts neural stem cells and causes a significant decline in neurogenesis that contributes to neuronal dysfunction. Previous studies suggest that oxidative stress and inflammation are major factors leading to the deleterious effects of aging and the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, and that naturally occurring phytonutrients and bioactives appear to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation, and possess both neuroprotective and neurogenic properties. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols and have been shown to improve cognition and memory in both aged animals and humans. Our previous data indicate that blueberry supplementation can increase neurogenesis in aged rodents, and has beneficial effects on the viability and proliferation of adult human neural progenitor cells (AHNPs). The current study investigates the effects of blueberry treatments on the expression of oxidative stress and inflammation markers in AHNPs, in order to further establish precise cell and molecular mechanisms underlying the nutrient beneficial effects of such foods on human neural stem and progenitor cells. AHNPs isolated from human hippocampus were cultured in N2 medium plus 5% fetal bovine serum, bovine pituitary extract, and growth factors. To determine whether blueberries could protect AHNPs from oxidative stress and inflammation induced by a cellular stressor, dopamine (DA), present in the media, AHNPs were treated with freeze-dried blueberry extract at concentrations from 0.1 to 0.5 mg/ml for 7 days followed by exposure to DA (0.1 um) for 2 hours. The expression of oxidative stress and inflammation markers such as iNOS and Nox-2 was then evaluated using western blot analysis of cell lysates. A subset of treated cells was also immunofluorescently labeled with antibodies against these markers to confirm their expression before and after DA-induced stress. Our data indicate that DA-induced stress increased the expression level of both iNOS and Nox-2 in hippocampal AHNPs, and that the blueberry treatments were able to attenuate the iNOS expression level by 10-25%, and the Nox-2 expression level by 15-50%, compared to the non-treated cells. Therefore, berry extracts may confer anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits on AHNPs, suggesting a potential neuroprotective role for particular dietary nutrients in helping to prevent neural cell loss during aging.