Resveratrol ameliorates high glucose-induced oxidative stress injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by activating AMPK

AimsTo investigate the effects of resveratrol on high glucose (HG)-induced vascular injury, and to establish the mechanism(s) underlying these effects.Main methodsHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with glucose, and then incubated with resveratrol in the presence or absence of Compound C, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor. Cell viability was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase were detected by flow cytometry, thiobarbituric acid reaction, and the nitroblue tetrazolium method, respectively. Protein levels of total and phosphorylated AMPKα and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were detected by immunoblotting.Key findingsResveratrol significantly ameliorated HG-induced decreases in cell viability and superoxide dismutase levels and increases in reactive oxygen species and MDA levels. Moreover, resveratrol significantly reversed HG-induced dephosphorylation of AMPKα and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. However, treatment with Compound C curtailed the beneficial effects of resveratrol on HG-treated HUVECs.SignificanceResveratrol ameliorates HG-induced injury in HUVECs by activation of AMPKα, leading to increased cellular reductive reactions and decreased oxidative stress. These results provide further evidence for resveratrol-mediated activation of AMPKα.