Abstract

Resveratrol is known to be protective against oxidative cardiovascular disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study was undertaken to determine if resveratrol could increase endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, and if such increased cellular defenses could provide protection against oxidative and electrophilic cell injury. Incubation of cardiac H9C2 cells with low micromolar resveratrol resulted in a significant induction of a scope of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in a concentration- and/or time-dependent fashion. To investigate the protective effects of the resveratrol-induced cellular defenses on oxidative and electrophilic cell injury, H9C2 cells were first incubated with resveratrol, and then exposed to xanthine oxidase (XO)/xanthine, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal or doxorubicin. We observed that resveratrol pretreatment afforded a marked protection against the above agent-mediated cytotoxicity in H9C2 cells. Moreover, the resveratrol pretreatment led to a great reduction in XO/xanthine-induced intracellular accumulation of ROS. Taken together, this study demonstrates that resveratrol induces antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, which is accompanied by increased resistance to oxidative and electrophilic cell injury.