Resveratrol inhibits cerebral aneurysms in mice via downregulating the NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral aneurysm (CA) is one of the most common cerebrovascular diseases. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of resveratrol (RES) on the CA formation and its possible mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine model of CA was constructed by induced hypertension and fed without (model group) or with RES (RES group). A Sham group was used as a control. The CA formation and inflammatory response were examined morphologically and histochemically. The expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 was analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blots. RESULTS: CA was induced in mice after the left common carotid artery was ligated and fed with high sodium chloride. Compared with the model, mice fed with RES had significantly fewer CA with smaller size, normal thickness of the arterial wall (P<0.05), and fewer infiltrated macrophages in the aneurysm wall (P<0.05). qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and NF-κB was significantly elevated in the model as compared with the control and significantly decreased after RES treatments (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RES can inhibit the CA formation in mice subjected to induced hypertension and this inhibition is likely mediated via downregulating the NF-κB pathway.