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ANESTHETIC PHARMACOLOGY

The Effect of Propofol on Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis of Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Mononuclear Cells and Lymphocytes

Ho-Kyung Song, MD^*, and Dae Chul Jeong, MD

Department of *Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Inchon, South Korea

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ho-Kyung Song, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, #665 Pupyung-Dong, Pupyung-Gu, Inchon, S. Korea 403-720. Address e-mail to song{at}olmh.cuk.ac.kr

IV anesthetics may inhibit proper immune responses and further compromise an already depressed defense system. To assess the possible role of propofol on human immune function in sepsis, we studied cytotoxicity, and apoptosis of mononuclear cells (MNCs). Peripheral blood MNCs were preincubated in 1 µg/mL of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then reincubated in different concentrations of propofol (1 µg/mL, 5 µg/mL, 10 µg/mL, or 50 µg/mL). To determine cytotoxicity, lactate dehydrogenase release was assayed by mixing MNCs (4 x 10⁵/100 µL) with K-562 tumor cells as target cells (1 x 10⁴/100 µL)(E: T ratio of 40:1). Apoptosis was determined by measuring the annexin positive cells using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis of LPS-treated MNCs were unchanged by clinically acceptable concentrations of propofol (1 µg/mL, 5 µg/mL, and 10 µg/mL). However, significant differences were observed in cytotoxicity (P = 0.004) and apoptosis (P = 0.002) with propofol 50 µg/mL. By gating MNCs, we found that lymphocyte apoptosis was significantly increased at 50 µg/mL of propofol, but monocytes were unaffected (P = 0.02). In terms of cytotoxicity and apoptosis, propofol allowed MNCs to retain their cytotoxicity in septic conditions by protecting immune cells from apoptosis.

IMPLICATIONS: Propofol at acceptable therapeutic concentrations, and under experimentally contrived septic conditions, did not affect the cytotoxic activity of mononuclear cells or the apoptosis level of mononuclear cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes from peripheral blood.

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