Proteomics approach to study the mechanism of action of grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts on arterial remodeling in diabetic rats

Arterial remodeling is the change in structural properties of vessel in diabetes mellitus and contributes to the development of vascular complications. To prevent this development and to improve diabetic vascular complications, effective therapies directed toward the key molecular target are required. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) have been reported to be effective in treating arteriosclerosis, while little is known about the functional protein changes. We used streptozocin to induce diabetic rats. GSPE (250 mg/kg body weight/day) were administrated to diabetic rats for 24 weeks. Consequently, 2-D difference gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to investigate aortic protein profiles among the control, untreated and GSPE-treated diabetic rats. The expression of 23 proteins was found either up-regulated or down-regulated in the aorta of untreated diabetic rats. Only the expression of 15 proteins was found either down-regulated or up-regulated in the aorta of GSPE-treated diabetic rats. Our findings might help to better understand the mechanism of diabetic macrovascular complications and provide novel targets for evaluating the effects of GSPE therapy.