Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates ouabain-induced vascular remodeling through regulation of endothelial function.

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that chronic ouabain treatment leads to hypertension and hypertensive vascular remodeling. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been reported to be effective in treating arteriosclerosis, while little is known about its effect on systolic blood pressure and vascular remodeling. In this study, the effects of GSPE on systolic blood pressure and vascular remodeling were analyzed by treating ouabain-induced hypertensive rats with GSPE (250 mg/kg·d). The expression of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in thoracic aorta was examined by ELISA; the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1 were detected using real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased following treatment with GSPE, with blocked vascular remodeling. The ET-1 content was reduced while NO production was increased in the GSPE group, which showed improved vascular endothelial function. Moreover, GSPE also reduced TGF-β1 expression in the thoracic aorta, which is a determinant in vascular remodeling. In conclusion, GSPE antagonized ouabain-induced hypertension and vascular remodeling and is recommended as a potential anti-hypertensive agent for patients with hypertensive vascular diseases.

• Authors: Xiangju Liu, Jie Qiu, Shaohua Zhao, Beian You, Xiang Ji, Yan Wang, Xiaopei Cui, Qian Wang, Haiqing Gao
• Journal: Molecular medicine reports (Mol Med Rep) Vol. 6 Issue 5 Pg. 949-54 (11 2012) ISSN: 1791-3004 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 22895622 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endothelin-1
• Grape Seed Extract
• Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins
• Proanthocyanidins
• RNA, Messenger
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1
• Nitric Oxide
• Ouabain

Topics

• Animals
• Aorta, Thoracic (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Endothelin-1 (metabolism)
• Endothelium, Vascular (drug effects, physiology)
• Grape Seed Extract (pharmacology)
• Male
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Ouabain (pharmacology)
• Proanthocyanidins (pharmacology)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Seeds (chemistry)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Vitis (chemistry)