ENDOTHELIAL-CELL BASAL PGI(2) RELEASE IS STIMULATED BY WINE IN-VITRO - ONE MECHANISM THAT MAY MEDIATE THE VASOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF WINE

Wine consumption is correlated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascu lar disease. Experimental model systems have demonstrated that wine re duces platelet reactivity, thrombosis, and vasoconstriction. The objec tive of this investigation was to determine if a single mechanism coul d mediate these cardioprotective effects. Prostacyclin and nitric oxid e are cell signaling molecules that have been described as inhibitors of vasoconstriction, platelet reactivity, and thrombosis. Endothelial cell release of these molecules was investigated because blood-borne p hytochemicals can come in contact with endothelial cells. Cabernet Sau vignon, alcoholized and dealcholized, stimulated bovine aortic endothe lial cell release of prostacyclin release were equivalent to those pre viously published as inducers of vasorelaxation. Prostacyclin release seemed to be dependent on basal or subbasal protein kinase C activity and occurred in the presence of the calcium ionophore ionomycin. The c onclusion from this study is that if wine acts in vivo as we observed it to in vitro, the ability of wine to inhibit platelet reactivity, th rombosis, and vasoconstriction could be mediated through the single me chanism of wine-induced prostacyclin release. (C) Elsevier Science Inc , 1997.