ISTOCK, ALEXPRO9500A compound found in red wine that has been linked to a diverse range of therapeutic properties in lab animals has now been shown to enhance human T-cell function, but only at low doses, according to a study published today (October 17) in Science Signaling. Small amounts of resveratrol made cultured CD4+ T cells more responsive to target antigens, researchers found, while larger amounts triggered defective antigen receptor signaling.
“This pharmacological agent has elicited much interest because of its potential to modulate a diverse array of pathological conditions, and it is associated with anticancer, antiaging, and anti-inflammatory properties,” the authors write in their paper. “The data shown here reveal a complex network of resveratrol-stimulated changes in cell cycle progression and metabolism, altering the potential of T lymphocytes to respond to foreign antigens.”
A polyphenol found in grapes, resveratrol has been shown to prolong life in worms and fruit flies through the activation of SIRT1, an enzyme involved in T-cell signaling and cytokine production. But even after multiple clinical trials, researchers have failed to conclusively demonstrate an extension of these positive effects to humans.
In the current study, researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics ...
