Resveratrol Promotes Angiogenesis in a FoxO1-Dependent Manner in Hind Limb Ischemia in Mice

Dongxiao Fan1,2, Chenshu Liu1,2, Zeling Guo3

  • 1Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.

Insights

Resveratrol (RSV) improves critical limb ischemia (CLI) by promoting angiogenesis, a process dependent on the protein FoxO1. This study reveals metabolic pathways linked to RSV

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Metabolomics

Background:

  • Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a severe manifestation of peripheral artery disease (PAD) with limited therapeutic options.
  • Therapeutic angiogenesis aims to improve collateral circulation in CLI, but drug development is challenging.
  • Resveratrol (RSV), a plant-derived polyphenol, exhibits various beneficial properties, but its role in CLI is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of Resveratrol (RSV) in treating critical limb ischemia (CLI).
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying RSV's effects on angiogenesis in CLI.
  • To identify metabolic pathways influenced by RSV intervention in ischemic conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Oral administration of RSV to a mouse model of hind limb ischemia.
  • In vitro studies using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to assess angiogenesis and FoxO1 phosphorylation.
  • Genetic manipulation of FoxO1 in HUVECs to confirm its role in RSV's effects.
  • Metabolomic analysis to identify altered metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

  • RSV treatment significantly improved hind limb ischemia in mice.
  • RSV enhanced angiogenesis in HUVECs by increasing phosphorylated Forkhead box class-O1 (FoxO1) and promoting its cytoplasmic re-localization.
  • The pro-angiogenic effects of RSV were confirmed to be FoxO1-dependent.
  • Metabolomics revealed correlations between RSV's beneficial effects and pathways including pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Resveratrol demonstrates therapeutic potential for critical limb ischemia (CLI) by promoting angiogenesis.
  • RSV exerts its pro-angiogenic effects through a FoxO1-dependent mechanism.
  • Specific metabolic pathways are significantly altered by RSV, contributing to its protective effects in ischemic muscle, offering novel therapeutic avenues for CLI.