This study aimed to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of action of grape and red wine polyphenols against oxidativeand inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis. This is a literature review performed by searching in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases using the following descriptors: red wine, grape, polyphenols, resveratrol, atherosclerosis, oxidized LDL, inflammation, oxidative stress, NF-kB, AP-1, Nrf2, SIRT-1, MicroRNA. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, studies indicate that phenolic compounds possibly complex with metals (such as iron and copper), or else they increase the antioxidant activity of plasma and also preserve the activity of enzyme paraoxonase. Moreover, the polyphenols neutralize free radicals and activate transcription factors, for example Nrf2, which increases the expression of genes that encode important proteins in antioxidant defense (such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase). Additionally, polyphenols inhibit the phosphorylation of MAP kinases, causing a blocking effect on the transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1 and, consequently, blocking the synthesis of TNF-α, interleukins, chemokines and molecules adhesion. Moreover, it can inhibit the activity of the cycloxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes. Another proposed mechanism is the action of resveratrol on the activity of histone deacetylases, as SIRT-1. These actions together reduce the oxidation of LDL-c and the inflammatory process, attenuating the atherogenic process.
Resveratrol; LDL-c; Nrf2; NF-kB; AP-1; atherosclerosis
