Wine, sirtuins and nephroprotection: not only resveratrol

Abstract

Resveratrol (RSV), a red wine component, and red wine itself exert cardio- and nephroprotective effects by modulating the Nitric Oxide system (NO). It has been shown that one of the main actions resulting from NO modulation is sirtuin regulation, especially SIRT-1 regulation. Elucidating both upstream and downstream molecular mechanisms of the SIRT-1 pathway is an open field of investigation that can explain its role not only in long-term processes, such as aging, but also in short-term processes, such as protection against ischemic damage. Our hypothesis suggests the importance of investigating compounds that are routine dietary components and do not necessarily contain RSV. Their nephroprotective activity could involve not only eNOS-dependent, but also NO-dependent but eNOS-independent mechanisms, or other molecular alternative signaling systems.