Research ReportResveratrol upregulated heat shock proteins and extended the survival of G93A-SOD1 mice

In the present study, we investigated whether resveratrol, a SIRT1 activator, can suppress the motor neuron degeneration in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of resveratrol delayed the disease onset and extended survival of the transgenic mice overexpressing G93A-SOD1. The number of surviving motor neurons increased in the resveratrol-injected G93A mice. Importantly, the levels of Hsp25 and Hsp70 were elevated while the level of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) acetylation decreased in the spinal cords of the resveratrol-injected G93A mice. Our data suggest that resveratrol may protect motor neurons from the mutant SOD1-induced neurotoxicity by promoting SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of HSF1 and subsequent upregulation of Hsps.

► Resveratrol extended survival of G93A-SOD1 transgenic mice. ► Resveratrol protected motor neurons from degeneration in the G93A mice. ► Resveratrol did not suppress gliosis in the G93A mice. ► Resveratrol induced heat shock factor 1 deacetylation in the G93A mice. ► Resveratrol upregulated the heat shock proteins in the G93A mice.