Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound in red wine, protects against oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity in endothelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Resveratrol, a polyphenolic constituent of red wine, has antioxidant effects. However, its protective effects against oxLDL-induced endothelial injury remained unclarified.


METHODS
Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVECs) treated with oxLDL (200 microg/ml) were used to explore the protective effect of resveratrol. Cytotoxicity of oxLDL on HUVECs was studied by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) and apoptotic cell death as characterized by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) stain. We also measured the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by using the fluorescnet probe 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein acetoxymethyl ester (DCF-AM), and observed the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, several apoptotic signaling pathway with increased cytosolic calcium, alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase 3 were also investigated.


RESULTS
Resveratrol attenuated oxLDL-induced cytotoxicity, apoptotic features, generation of ROS and intracellular calcium accumulation. OxLDL-induced mitochondria membrane potential collapase, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase 3 in HUVECs were also suppressed by resveratrol pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Red wine intake may protect against oxLDL-induced dysfunction of endothelial cells.
Ou
Hsiu-Chung
HC
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Education and Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung-Kang Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
Chou
Fen-Pi
FP
Sheen
Huey-Min
HM
Lin
Tsung-Min
TM
Yang
Ching-Hwa
CH
Huey-Herng Sheu
Wayne
W
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D000077185:Resveratrol; D002118:Calcium