BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Resveratrol (RESV) is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cardio protective effects of RESV in a diabetic rat model with coronary heart disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Diabetic rat model with coronary heart disease was constructed by feeding high-fat and high-calorie diet, followed by injection of streptozotocin. The diabetic rats received RESV or DMSO as treatment. Insulin, total cholesterol, and total triglyceride levels in serum were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate the effect of RESV in alleviating diabetic symptoms. Inflammatory factors, including tumor necrotic factor α, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular-cell adhesion molecule 1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were assayed using ELISA. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the impact of RESV treatment on the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway (toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway). Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to document pathological changes in cardiovascular muscles.

RESULTS: RESV preserved pancreatic tissue, which therefore reduced levels of glucose and triglycerides glyceride in serum. Inflammatory factors were also suppressed by RESV. TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway was downregulated after RESV treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: RESV offers protective effects of cardiovascular tissues in the diabetic rat model with coronary heart disease. Those effects are mediated by downregulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Keywords: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Blotting, Western, Cholesterol, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental, Down-Regulation, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Insulin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88