Resveratrol inhibits lipid accumulation in the intestine of atherosclerotic mice and macrophages.

Disordered intestinal metabolism is highly correlated with atherosclerotic diseases. Resveratrol protects against atherosclerotic diseases. Accordingly, this study aims to discover novel intestinal proatherosclerotic metabolites and potential therapeutic targets related to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of resveratrol. An untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to discover novel intestinal metabolic disturbances during atherosclerosis and resveratrol intervention. We found that multiple intestinal metabolic pathways were significantly disturbed during atherosclerosis and responsive to resveratrol intervention. Notably, resveratrol abolished intestinal fatty acid and monoglyceride accumulation in atherosclerotic mice. Meanwhile, oleate accumulation was one of the most prominent alterations in intestinal metabolism. Moreover, resveratrol attenuated oleate-triggered accumulation of total cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and neutral lipids in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages by activating ABC transporter A1/G1-mediated cholesterol efflux through PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) α/γ activation. Furthermore, we confirmed that PPARα and PPARγ activation by WY14643 and pioglitazone, respectively, alleviated oleate-induced accumulation of total cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and neutral lipids by accelerating ABC transporter A1/G1-mediated cholesterol efflux. This study provides the first evidence that resveratrol abolishes intestinal fatty acid and monoglyceride accumulation in atherosclerotic mice, and that resveratrol suppresses oleate-induced accumulation of total cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and neutral lipids in macrophages by activating PPARα/γ signalling.