Schematic representation of resveratrol-mediated effects on endothelial cells. Resveratrol phosphorylates and activates eEF2 kinase via AMP kinase. Activation of eEF2 kinase leads to inactivation of eEF2. Inactivation of eEF2 inhibits vascular endothelial cell proliferation.

Resveratrol inhibits CNV in mice in a Sirt1-independent manner. A: C57BL6 mice (n ≥ 5 per group) were treated with sham (vehicle-25% EtOH) or resveratrol (Res-22.5 mg/kg or 45 mg/kg) seven days before laser-induced injury, and treatment was continued for seven more days. CNV was quantified by confocal microscopy. B: Representative CNV lesions from sham- or resveratrol-treated mice. C: C57BL6 mice (n = 5 per group) were treated with sham (vehicle), resveratrol (45 mg/kg), Sirt1 Inh III (25 mg/kg), or resveratrol + Sirt1 Inh III for seven days before laser. Treatment was then continued for seven additional days after laser. CNV was quantified by confocal microscopy D: Representative CNV lesions from sham-treated, resveratrol-treated, or sirt1 inh III + resveratrol-treated mice. CNV volumes are average values ± SE. *P ≤ 0.05 by Student t test.

Resveratrol induced eEF2 and eEF2k phosphorylation are mediated by AMPK. A: HMVECs were pretreated with AMPK inhibitor BML275 (50 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L) for two hours and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 30 minutes. Cells were lysed, and lysates were evaluated for peEF2 (Thr) and total eEF2. B: eEF2k (ser398) phosphorylation and total eEF2k. C: HMVECs were pretreated with BML275 (100 nmol/L) for two hours and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 15 minutes. Cell lysates were evaluated for AMPK phosphorylation (Threonine). D: HMVECs were pretreated with BML275 (100 nmol/L) for two hours and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 20 hours. Cell migration was measured in the scratch assay. E: Cells were counted in four random fields in the scratched area after 20 hours and quantified. F: HMVECs were pretreated with BML275 (100 nmol/L) for two hours and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 20 hours. Cell proliferation was measured in the proliferation assay after addition of ³H Thymidine. G: HMVECs were transfected with either control siRNA or AMPK siRNA. Cells were then treated with resveratrol for 20 hours, and cell migration was quantified in four random fields of scratched area. Values are averages ± SE. *P ≤ 0.05 by Student t test.

Neutralization or deficiency of eEF2k completely abolishes the effect of resveratrol on CNV and angiogenesis in matrigel plugs in vivo. A: C57BL6 mice were treated with i) vehicle, ii) resveratrol (45 mg/kg), iii) NH125 (25 mg/kg), or iv) resveratrol + NH125 for seven days using osmotic sustained release pumps before laser injury. Eyes were harvested, and lysates were analyzed for eEF2 phosphorylation (Thr). B: Lysates were also analyzed for eEF2k phosphorylation (ser 398). C: eEF2K^−/− mice and wild-type littermate controls were treated with i) vehicle or ii) resveratrol (45 mg/kg). Mice were lasered and eyes were collected after seven days. Eyes were then lysed and analyzed for eEF2 phosphorylation (Thr). D: C57BL6 mice (n ≥ 5) were treated with resveratrol (45 mg/kg) and NH125 (25 mg/kg). Mice were lasered and treatment was continued for seven more days. CNV was quantified by confocal microscopy. E: eEF2K^−/− mice (n ≥ 5) and littermate controls (n = 5) were treated with vehicle or resveratrol (45 mg/kg) pumps and were lasered. CNV volumes were quantified seven days after laser. F: C57BL6 (n ≥ 5) were treated with i) vehicle, ii) resveratrol (45 mg/kg), iii) NH125 (25 mg/kg), or iv) resveratrol + NH125 for seven days before matrigel injection. Matrigel (200 μl/mouse) was injected subcutaneously, and treatment was continued for seven days. Mice were then killed and matrigel plugs were collected and evaluated for hemoglobin. G: eEF2K^−/− mice (n ≥ 5) and wild-type littermate controls were treated with vehicle or resveratrol (45 mg/kg) for seven days. Mice were then injected subcutaneously with matrigel (200 μl/mouse). Matrigel plugs were collected and evaluated for hemoglobin after seven days. Results are averages ± SE. *P ≤ 0.05 by Student t test.

Resveratrol inhibits proliferation and migration of HMVECs in a Sirt1-independent manner. A: Cell cycle analysis: HMVECs were treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) then stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by FACS (Flow Cytometry). B: HMVECs were treated with resveratrol (2 to 16 μg/ml), and cell proliferation was assayed. C: Proliferation assay: HMVECs were pretreated with Sirt1 inh III (25 to 200 nmol/L) for two hours, and then the cells were treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for eight hours. Cell proliferation was quantified by measuring incorporation of ³H thymidine (40 μCi/ml). D: HMVECs were cultured to confluence, and a scratch was placed in the center of the wells. Migration of cells into the gap was measured at 20 hours. E: HMVECs were transfected with Sirt1 siRNA or control siRNA (60 pmols) and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for eight hours. Cell proliferation was measured as described in the Materials and Methods. F: HMVECs were transfected with Sirt1 siRNA or control siRNA (60 pmols) and then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml). Migration of cells into the gap was measured in a scratch assay as described in the Materials and Methods. UNL indicates unlabeled cells; LAB, labeled. Values are averages ± SE. *P ≤ 0.05 by Student t test.

Resveratrol-induced effects on endothelial cell migration and proliferation are mediated by eEF2. A: HMVECs were pretreated with NH125 (100 nmol/L and 200 nmol/L) for two hours and treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for eight hours. ³H Thymidine (40 μCi/ml) was then added to the culture, and cell proliferation was measured after 12 hours. B: HMVECs were pretreated with NH125 (200 nmol/L) for two hours and treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 20 hours. Cell proliferation was measured in the scratch assay. C: Cells were counted in four random fields in the scratch after 20 hours of incubation to quantify migration into the gap. D: HMVECs were transfected with eEF2 or eEF2K siRNA for 24 hours and treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 20 hours. Cell migration was quantified at 20 hours in the scratch assay. E: HMVECs were transfected with eEF2 or eEF2K siRNA for 24 hours and treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for eight hours. ³H Thymidine (40 μCi/ml) was then added to the culture, and cell proliferation was measured after 12 hours. F: HMVECs were treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml for 0, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 1 hour) and immunoprecipitated with anti-pan threonine after cell lysis [lower panel, Anti-pThr (pan)]. Immunoprecipitates were also analyzed for eEF2 by Western blotting (upper panel eEF2 WB). G: HMVECs were treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml for 0, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 1 hour), cells were lysed, and lysates were evaluated for peEF2 (Thr) and eEF2. H: HMVECs were treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml, 20 minutes), lysed, and analyzed for peEF2K (ser 398) and eEF2K by Western blotting. I: HMVECs were pretreated with NH125 (eEF2k inhibitor, 50 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L, and 200 nmol/L) for two hours. Cells were then treated with resveratrol (4 μg/ml) for 30 minutes and lysed. Lysates were evaluated for eEF2 and peEF2 (Thr) UNL stands for unlabeled cells and LAB stands for labeled cells. Values are averages ± SE. *P ≤ 0.05 by Student t test.