Red wine polyphenols increase calcium in bovine aortic endothelial cells: a basis to elucidate signalling pathways leading to nitric oxide production.

1. The present study investigates the mechanisms by which polyphenolic compounds from red wine elicit Ca(2+) mobilization in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Two polyphenol-containing red wine extracts, red wine polyphenolic compounds (RWPC) and Provinols, and delphinidin, an anthocyanin were used. 2. RWPC stimulated a Ca(2+)-dependent release of nitric oxide (NO) from BAECs accounting for the relaxation of endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings as shown by cascade bioassay. 3. RWPC, Provinols and delphinidin increased cytosolic free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)), by releasing Ca(2+) from intracellular stores and by increasing Ca(2+) entry. 4. The RWPC-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was decreased by exposure to ryanodine (30 microM), whereas Provinols and delphinidin-induced increases in [Ca(2+)](i) were decreased by bradykinin (0.1 microM) and thapsigargin (1 microM) pre-treatment. 5. RWPC, Provinols and delphinidin-induced increases in [Ca(2+)](i) were sensitive to inhibitors of phospholipase C (neomycin, 3 mM; U73122, 3 microM) and tyrosine kinase (herbimycin A, 1 microM). 6. RWPC, Provinols and delphinidin induced herbimycin A (1 microM)-sensitive tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular proteins. 7. Provinols released Ca(2+) via both a cholera (CTX) and pertussis toxins (PTX)-sensitive pathway, whereas delphinidin released Ca(2+) only via a PTX-sensitive mechanism. 8. Our data contribute in defining the mechanisms of endothelial NO production caused by wine polyphenols including the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and the activation of tyrosine kinases. Furthermore, RWPC, Provinols and delphinidin display differences in the process leading to [Ca(2+)](i) increases in endothelial cells illustrating multiple cellular targets of natural dietary polyphenolic compounds.