Resveratrol-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellul ar signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and extracellular signal-regulated kina se 2 (ERK2), induced by resveratrol, a natural antioxidant present in grape s and wine, has been studied in vitro on undifferentiated and differentiate d (induction by retinoic acid) SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. In undiff erentiated cells resveratrol 1 mu M induced phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK 2, which was already evident at 2 min, peaked at 10 min and persisted at 30 min. A wide range (from 1 pM to 10 mu M) Of resveratrol concentrations wer e able to induce phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, while higher concentrati ons (50-100 mu M) inhibited MAP kinases phosphorylation. In retinoic acid ( RA) differentiated cells resveratrol (1 mu M) induced an evident increase i n ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation. This study demonstrates that resveratrol, even at very low concentrations, may have a biological effect on neuron-lik e cells. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.