Fields of Expertise: Pharmacology, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial (dys)function, natural products

Author details: Cyril Auger has been, since 2010, a Research Scientist in Pharamcology at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Strasbourg, France. He obtained his PhD in Food Sciences from the University of Montpellier II in 2004. Prior to his current positions, he was a Research Assistant in the Human Nutrition Group at the University of Glasgow (2005-2006), and in the UMR CNRS 7034 at the University of Strasbourg (2006-2010). He is the author of over 95 peer-reviewed publications. His main research subject since his PhD is the evaluation of the vascular effects of natural compounds, in particular on the endothelial function in both the micro- and macro-vascular arterial circulation in major cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and ageing. Indeed, during his PhD he has extensively studied the protective effects of natural compounds, including anthocyanin-rich products, on the development of early atherosclerotic lesions in hamsters. Since then, he has focused on the role of the endothelium in the beneficial vascular effects of natural compounds and polyphenols-rich products using cultured ECs, isolated blood vessels and in vivo models.

Abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is now well established as a pivotal early event in the development of major cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes and also ageing. The alteration of the endothelial function is often triggered by an imbalance between the endothelial formation of vasoprotective factors including nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH), and an increased level of oxidative stress involving several pro-oxidant enzymes such as NADPH oxidase and, often also, the appearance of cyclooxygenase-derived vasoconstrictors. Recently, endothelial senescence has been reported to be an early trigger of endothelial dysfunction.Pre-clinical studies have indicated that polyphenol-rich food, including anthocyanin-rich products, can activate pathways promoting an increased formation of vasoprotective factors including NO and EDH, and can prevent the induction of endothelial senescence and dysfunction in endothelial cells and isolated blood vessels. Similarly, intake of anthocyanin-rich products has been associated with the prevention and/or the improvement of an established endothelial dysfunction in several experimental models of cardiovascular diseases, including physiological ageing. Moreover, clinical data indicate that polyphenol-rich and anthocyanin-rich products can improve the endothelial function and the vascular health in Humans with cardiovascular diseases. This presentation will discuss both experimental and clinical evidences indicating that several polyphenol-rich foods and natural products, and especially anthocyanin-rich products, are able to promote endothelial and vascular health, as well as the underlying mechanisms.