Red wine prevents homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction in porcine coronary arteries.
BACKGROUND
Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease. Clinical studies have indicated that moderate red wine consumption is associated with a reduction of incidence of coronary artery disease. In this study, we determined the effect of red wine on homocysteine- induced endothelial dysfunction in porcine coronary arteries.


METHODS
Porcine coronary arteries were dissected from 6 pig hearts and cut into 5-mm ring segments, which were assigned into 4 groups (9 rings/group): blank control, homocysteine treated (50 muM), red wine treated (0.08% alcohol), and homocysteine plus red wine treated. The rings were cultured in cell culture medium with or without treatment for 24 h. Myograph analysis was performed with U46619 (10(-7) M) for contraction and cumulative bradykinin (10(-9) to 10(-5) M) for endothelium-dependent relaxation. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels were analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In response to 10(-5) M bradykinin, porcine coronary artery rings treated with homocysteine (50 muM) showed a significant reduction of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by 43% as compared to controls (P < 0.05). However, rings treated with red wine (0.08% alcohol) plus homocysteine showed no significant difference as compared to controls. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was not different between control and red wine treated groups. Furthermore, eNOS mRNA density levels were significantly reduced by 36% in homocysteine treated group as compared to controls (P < 0.05). eNOS protein levels were also substantially reduced in the homocysteine-treated group. However, red wine treatment reversed the effect of homocysteine-induced eNOS downregulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Homocysteine significantly impaired endothelial functions including endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and eNOS mRNA and protein levels in porcine coronary arteries; and red wine effectively prevented homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction. This study suggests that protecting coronary endothelial cells from homocysteine damage may be an important mechanism of red wine for preventing coronary artery disease.
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Michael E. DeDakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Weiping
W
Fu
Brian S
BS
Conklin
Peter H
PH
Lin
Alan B
AB
Lumsden
Qizhi
Q
Yao
Changyi
C
Chen
D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D014920:Wine
D003470:Culture Media; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006710:Homocysteine; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D001920:Bradykinin