Research: Neurtriceutical may inhibit remyelination


Torres et al. Vinpocetine Inhibits Oligodendroglial Precursor Cell Differentiation. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2012;30(3):711-722.

Background: In multiple sclerosis during periods of remission a limited degree of myelin repair can be observed mediated by oligodendroglial precursor cells. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors act as anti-inflammatory agents and might hold promise for future multiple sclerosis treatment.  
Aims: To investigate whether phosphodiesterase inhibitors could also influence myelin repair.  

Methods: We stimulated primary oligodendroglial precursor cells with cilostazol, rolipram and vinpocetine and assessed their effects on repair related cellular processes. 
Results: We found that vinpocetine exerted a strong negative effect on myelin expression while cilostazol and rolipram did not show such effects. In addition, vinpocetine decreased morphological complexities suggesting an overall negative impact on oligodendroglial cell maturation. We provide evidence that this is not mediated via a blockade of phosphodiesterase-1 but rather by inhibition of IĸB kinase. 
Conclusion: These findings suggest that vinpocetine via IĸB inhibition exerts a strong negative impact on oligodendroglial cell maturation and may therefore provide the rationale to restrict its application during periods of remission in multiple sclerosis patients. This is of particular interest since vinpocetine is widely used as a health supplement thought to act as a cognitive and memory enhancer for healthy people and patients with neurological or muscle diseases.


I would not be using PDE4 inhibitors such as rolipram because it inhibits pathways associated with boosting MS, cilostazol is a PDE3 inhibitor. Vinpocetine has been shown to selectively inhibit voltage-sensitive Na+ channels and could be neuroprotective. Vinpocetine is also a phosphodiesterase (PDE) type-1 inhibitor but the doses for this activity are very high. Vinpocetine's action on PDE, vinpocetine inhibits IKK preventing IκB degradation and the following translocation of NF-κB to the cell nucleus.  As will all nutricueticals we like to see evidence that they are useful and that they are not doing harm. This study suggests that vinpocetine may inhibit remyelination. How the findings of this study equate to nutriceutical use is unclear. However it serves as a warning concerning the use of nutriceuticals.

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