Resveratrol protects endothelial cells from senescence via inhibition of apoptosis

AIM To investigate the changes and functions of SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin family, in natural senescence of endothelial cells and its mechanism. METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) were continuously cultured and passaged for 38 generations. Cells of the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th and 35th generations were selected and Western blot was performed to detect the SIRT1 expressions of endothelial cells. Annexin V-FITC was conducted to measure the changes of apoptosis in endothelial cells. Cells of the 25th generation were subsequently chosen to be subjected to the SIRT1 agonist resveratrol (30 μmol/L) and SA-β-Gal staining and Annexin V-FITC methods were used to detect the aging degree and the changes of apoptosis in endothelial cells, respectively. RESULTSAs the passages increased, protein expressions of SIRT1 in the endothelial cells decreased (P<0.01) and the apoptosis rate increased (P<0.01). After resveratrol intervention in the 25th generation cells, the protein expressions of SIRT1 increased, and SA-β-Gal positive cells (P<0.01) and apoptosis rates (P<0.05) declined. CONCLUSIONDuring the natural senescence of endothelial cells, expression of SIRT1 decreases but resveratrol could reverse the senescence, possibly by decreasing the apoptosis levels of endothelial cells.