Etiology of atherosclerosis informs choice of animal models and tissues for initial functional genomic studies of resveratrol

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#animals #atherosclerosis #diet #dietary-supplements #disease-models-animal

Etiology of atherosclerosis informs choice of animal models and tissues for initial functional genomic studies of resveratrol

Huminiecki et al., 2020 | Pharmacol Res | Systematic Review

Citation

Huminiecki Lukasz, Atanasov Atanas G, Horbańczuk Jarosław. Etiology of atherosclerosis informs choice of animal models and tissues for initial functional genomic studies of resveratrol. Pharmacol Res. 2020-Jun;156:104598. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104598

Abstract

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin, is a natural polyphenol synthesized exclusively by plants in response to environmental stresses. However, the molecule has also many exogenous bioactivities in animal cells. These bioactivities may lead to anti-cancer and cardio-protective health benefits. Because cellular responses to the treatment with resveratrol include the changes of expression patterns, functional genomics is an attractive tool to study them. In recent and today's experimental practice, this mostly means microarray profiling of gene expression (using RNAs isolated from bulk tissues). Herein, we review such published studies undertaken in the context of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs are a number one public health problem in developed countries, outweighing in magnitude even cancer. In particular, we review the studies of resveratrol in several animal models relevant to CVDs. These models included: normal and pre-mature aging in mice, as well as atherogenic diet in mice / pigs / non-human primates. Additionally, there were few clinical studies published in the context of the comorbidities of atherosclerosis in humans (e.g. obesity, diabetes, hypertension). For the purposes of these studies, three types of samples were most commonly profiled with microarrays: the liver, the skeletal muscle, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Resveratrol-induced changes of gene expression typically mimicked those associated with calorie restriction and lifespan extension. They also opposed changes induced by the atherogenic diet. We conclude by discussing few experimental factors that were relatively neglected thus far, but which could be interesting to investigate in the future. These factors include sex and the exact formulation of resveratrol (plant extract, or synthetic chemical).

Key Findings

These factors include sex and the exact formulation of resveratrol (plant extract, or synthetic chemical).

Outcomes Measured

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Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
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Condition hypertension

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Resveratrol
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcriptome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: resveratrol

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09