Short Interval Resveratrol Trial in Cardiovascular Surgery

Description

Patients with diabetes and metabolic diseases such as obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia have a myocardial environment that results in endothelial dysfunction, altered metabolism and little potential for regeneration by intrinsic or extrinsically delivered therapies. Based upon work in animal and cell culture models of human disease, caveolae, lipid rafts found on the cell membrane of endothelial cells and myocytes, are important in cell signaling and metabolism. A growing body of literature suggests that disruption of membrane lipid microdomains in diabetes can lead to altered signaling that contributes to cardiovascular pathology. One possible method to improve the “endothelial health” of the heart could involve normalizing metabolic processes and decreasing signals that lead to inflammation and pathways that lead to fibrosis in the myocardium. This presents an opportunity to improve outcomes in our diabetic patients and improve the success of future therapies aimed at improving endothelial function.

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in abundance in red wine, activates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, which influences a diverse array of metabolic pathways. Studies in cultured cells, small animal models, and humans demonstrate that SIRT1 is involved in endothelial function, mitochondrial biogenesis, insulin production, inflammation, and glucose and lipid homeostasis. These processes are often dysfunctional in patients with diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

The central hypothesis of this proposal is that molecular pathology of diabetes on cardiac endothelium can be corrected with orally supplemented resveratrol.

The investigators propose to test this hypothesis in by first assessing endothelial function, lipidomic signatures, and cell signaling in patients with and without diabetes mellitus undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The second Aim of this proposal is a pilot placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial that will assess the effects of supplemental resveratrol in diabetic patients undergoing CABG with CPB. The goal will be to better understand the influence of resveratrol on key molecular signals that determine endothelial function, calveolar makeup and function, as well as cytoprotective signaling and responses in the heart.

The Specific Aims of this proposal are to:

Aim 1: Define the molecular pathology of diabetes on cardiac cells and tissues in non-diabetic and diabetic patients undergoing surgical revascularization. We will assess the effects of DM on endothelial function and damage, lipidomics, caveolar expression, disrupted receptor expression and neuregulin signaling.

Aim 2: Determine the effect of resveratrol on the microvascular function of diabetic patients undergoing surgical revascularization. Through a pilot randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, the investigators will evaluate the effect of resveratrol on endothelial damage at the time of cardiopulmonary bypass, endothelial function, and cell signaling.

This study will further our understanding of how resveratrol impacts patients in a controlled setting, and will allow for a thorough and complete investigation of how the supplement affects this patient population clinically and on a molecular level. The data will inform the development of larger studies examining the benefits of resveratrol in diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Finally, the investigators successful completion of this trial will inform the study of other therapeutics where direct myocardial effects are being considered.