Resveratrol inhibits parathyroid hormone-induced apoptosis in human aortic smooth muscle cells by upregulating sirtuin 1.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease, so there is an urgent need to identify therapeutic targets to control the progression of cardiovascular disease. Apoptosis of aortic smooth muscle cells can promote cardiovascular disease, but the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and sirtuin 1 in the pathophysiology of apoptosis is still unclear.

METHODS: Cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were stimulated with 10-6 , 10-8 , or 10-10  mol/L PTH for different days, apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and sirtuin 1 and Bcl-2 protein levels in cell extracts were analyzed by western blotting. HASMCs were stimulated with PTH (10-8  mol/L) and 50 or 100 μmol/L RES for 3 d, apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and sirtuin 1 and Bcl-2 protein levels in cell extracts were analyzed by western blotting.

RESULTS: We found that PTH decreased the expression of sirtuin 1 and Bcl-2, inducing apoptosis (p<.05). Resveratrol (RES), a sirtuin 1 agonist, inhibited PTH-induced apoptosis and restored Bcl-2 expression (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: PTH induces apoptosis in HASMCs. Resveratrol inhibits PTH-induced apoptosis in HASMCs.