Resveratrol increases vascular oxidative stress resistance

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Molecular Biology
• Oxidative Stress Research

Background:

• Mediterranean diets rich in resveratrol are linked to lower coronary artery disease risk.
• Mechanisms of resveratrol's vasculoprotective effects, particularly against oxidative stress and endothelial injury, require further elucidation.
• Oxidative stress and endothelial cell damage are key factors in vascular aging and atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether resveratrol inhibits oxidative stress-induced endothelial apoptosis.
• To explore the role of antioxidant systems in resveratrol's antiapoptotic action.
• To determine resveratrol's effects on intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and DNA damage.

Main Methods:

• Assessing caspase-3/7 activity in endothelial cells and rat aortas treated with oxidized LDL and TNF-alpha, with and without resveratrol.
• Evaluating the impact of inhibiting glutathione peroxidase and heme oxygenase-1 on resveratrol's protective effects.
• Measuring intracellular H2O2 levels and H2O2-mediated cell death in response to various oxidative stressors (H2O2, paraquat, UV light) with resveratrol treatment.
• Conducting comet assays to assess UV-induced DNA damage.
• Analyzing the expression of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, heme oxygenase-1, SOD isoforms) in cultured arteries.
• Performing in vitro H2O2 scavenging assays.

Main Results:

• Resveratrol (10(-6)-10(-4) mol/l) prevented increases in caspase-3/7 activity induced by oxidized LDL and TNF-alpha.
• Resveratrol's protective effects were diminished by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase and heme oxygenase-1.
• Resveratrol protected against increased intracellular H2O2 and H2O2-mediated apoptosis induced by exogenous H2O2, paraquat, and UV light.
• UV-induced DNA damage was attenuated by resveratrol.
• Resveratrol upregulated glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and heme oxygenase-1 expression in cultured arteries but not SOD isoforms.
• Resveratrol demonstrated effective H2O2 scavenging in vitro.

Conclusions:

• Resveratrol enhances vascular resistance to oxidative stress by scavenging H2O2 and preventing oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell death.
• The antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of resveratrol contribute to its cardioprotective properties, potentially alongside its anti-inflammatory actions.