Resveratrol Attenuates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis and Diastolic Dysfunction via PTEN/AKT/Smad2/3 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Scope: Cardiac fibrosis is a key feature of cardiac remodeling. Recently, a protective role for resveratrol (RES) in pressure-overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction has been demonstrated. However, the effect of RES on cardiac fibrosis and diastolic function in this model remains unclear.

Methods and results: Cardiac remodeling is induced in mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for 2-4 weeks. RES is administered at dose of 5 or 50 mg kg^-1 d^-1 for 2 weeks. It is found that RES administration at 50 mg kg^-1 d^-1 significantly attenuates TAC-induced adverse cardiac systolic and diastolic function, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress via inhibiting PTEN degradation and the downstream mediators. However, RES at 5 mg kg^-1 d^-1 has no significant effects. RES at 50 mg kg^-1 d^-1 also ameliorates pre-established adverse cardiac function and remodeling induced by TAC. Treatment with PTEN inhibitor VO-OHpic (10 mg kg^-1 d^-1 ) for 2 weeks abolishes RES-mediated protective effects. Additionally, the effect of RES (100 µm) on inhibition of Ang II-induced fibroblast proliferation and activation in vitro is verified.

Conclusions: The findings provide new evidence that RES plays a critical role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction, and suggest that RES may be a promising therapeutic agent for cardiac fibrosis.