Myo-inositol reduces β-catenin activation in colitis.

Aim: To assess dietary myo-inositol in reducing stem cell activation in colitis, and validate pβ-catenin as a biomarker of recurrent dysplasia.

Methods: We examined the effects of dietary myo-inositol treatment on inflammation, pβ-catenin and pAkt levels by histology and western blot in IL-10 and dextran sodium sulfate-treated colitic mice. Additionally, we assessed nuclear pβ-catenin in patients treated with myo-inositol in a clinical trial, and in patients with and without a history of colitis-induced dysplasia.

Results: In mice, pβ-catenin staining faithfully reported the effects of myo-inositol in reducing inflammation and intestinal stem cell activation. In a pilot clinical trial of myo-inositol administration in patients with a history of low grade dysplasia (LGD), two patients had reduced numbers of intestinal stem cell activation compared to the placebo control patient. In humans, pβ-catenin staining discriminated ulcerative colitis patients with a history of LGD from those with benign disease.

Conclusion: Enumerating crypts with increased numbers of pβ-catenin - positive cells can be utilized as a biomarker in colitis-associated cancer chemoprevention trials.