Cardioprotection by resveratrol: a review of effects/targets in cultured cells and animal tissues.

The most widespread form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the western world today is atherosclerosis (AS), notably of the major arteries. Despite decades of laboratory, animal, and clinical investigation providing multiple leads and intervention strategies that have resulted in a progressive decline in CVD-related mortality rates, the etiology of AS is incomplete; hence, the need for management and prevention remains imperative. AS is initiated by endothelial cell (EC) injury whereas its progression is promoted by EC interaction with cells that are recruited to the injured endothelium, and additionally, bioactive cytokines and chemokines elaborated by the intercellular interplay. A primary research interest of our laboratory has been the mechanisms that underlie the "French paradox" - an epidemiological association of the co-existence of risk factors with low CVD incidence/mortality rates postulated to attribute to low-to-moderate consumption of red wine and grape-derived polyphenol resveratrol. This review summarizes effects and targets of resveratrol in cultured human aortic and pulmonary aortic endothelial cells (HAEC and HPAEC) and animal tissues, with focus on the resveratrol target protein RTP, N-ribosyldihydro-nicotinamide:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO2).