New findings about Resveratrol

Resveratrol, a compound found most famously in grapes and red wine, seems to ward off several age-related diseases. However, its mechanism of action has been elusive. Researchers have now found a direct molecular target for the compound. People can develop a variety of metabolic diseases as they age, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In animal studies, severely restricting calories can help prevent these diseases. Over the last decade, scientists have found that resveratrol mimics calorie restriction in some ways. It seems to affect the activity of proteins called sirtuins. Sirtuins control several biological pathways and are known to be involved in the aging process. Recent studies uncovered intermediate steps between resveratrol and sirtuins. A key step in this pathway is an enzyme called AMPK, which regulates energy levels in the cell. However, the link between resveratrol and AMPK has been a mystery. 

The researchers methodically traced metabolic activity in cells treated with resveratrol. They were able to identify an enzyme called PDE4 in the skeletal muscle as the principal target for the health benefits of resveratrol. Resveratrol inhibits PDE4, which raises levels of an important cell signaling molecule called cAMP. Levels of cAMP normally rise when cells get the signal that blood glucose levels are low. Resveratrol thus activates one of the same biochemical pathways as a low-calorie diet. This pathway ultimately activates AMPK and sirtuins. A PDE4 inhibitor that is 30,000 times more potent than resveratrol has recently been approved by the FDA for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.