French paradox: a mechanism explains the action of resveratrol on the cardiac system

Resveratrol: its action on the cardiac system

Dietary intake of resveratrol could inhibit the formation of inflammatory factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. The natural molecule, also found in grapes and wine, appears to act by binding to and activating a protein, known as KSRP, that blocks the formation of inflammation molecules.

This was established by a research team from the Department of Pharmacology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center in Mainz, Germany. The findings were published in the scientific journal Nucleic Acids Research.

Resveratrol and the French paradox

Despite the fact that they eat a lot of fatty foods, the French rarely tend to develop heart disease compared to other populations. This so-called "French paradox" is attributed to the high consumption of red wine, which is typical especially in some parts of France. This phenomenon has been the subject of several studies in recent years. 

A number of researches have shown that resveratrol, a molecule naturally present in grape skins and therefore also in red wine, does indeed seem to have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol is a member of the family of polyphenols, compounds that in addition to strong antioxidant power also seem to have other positive effects on the body. The molecule's biological action on the cardiac system may be due, at least in part, to its ability to inhibit the synthesis of certain inflammatory factors.

Resveratrol blocks the formation of 'inflammation by acting on a protein

Using a combination of tests on both human cell samples and laboratory animals, the team was able to show that grape resveratrol inhibits the formation of inflammatory factors involved in the progression of heart disease. Professor Andrea Junior Pautz, and her team of researchers, thus found that the natural substance binds to a protein, called KSRP, activating it. 

This, once active is able to act on messenger RNA, a molecule necessary for the transfer of information carried by genes, and block the formation of certain inflammatory molecules. These findings may explain more precisely how resveratrol can inhibit 'inflammation by acting on genetic material.

Resveratrol has significant therapeutic potential

According to the researchers who conducted the study, this finding is important in view of the fact that it has been scientifically demonstrated that cardiovascular disorders, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, often occur in association with chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Resveratrol could, therefore, have important therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases that can promote serious damage to the cardiovascular system.   

 Source: F. Bollmann et al, Resveratrol post-transcriptionally regulates pro-inflammatory gene expression via regulation of KSRP RNA binding activity, Nucleic Acids Research 42:20, 12555-12569, October 28, 2014.