The role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in wine-induced cardioprotection

• Main Author: Albertyn, Zulfah
• Other Authors: Lecour, Sandrine
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2015
• Subjects: MED
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11789

Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references. === Moderate and chronic consumption of red wine confers cardioprotection. Melatonin, present in wine, may contribute to this cardioprotective effect. Melatonin confers cardioprotection via the activation of tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(STAT-3), via mechanisms that still remain to be delineated. We therefore hypothesise that South African red and white wines confer a cardioprotective effect in relation to their melatonin content. Furthermore, we propose that the cardioprotective effect of melatonin (at a concentration found in red wine) is dependent on the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) to activate TNF-α/STAT-3.