Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Mar;58(3):277-282. 10.4097/kjae.2010.58.3.277.

Comparison of the effects of propofol and pentobarbital on hydrogen peroxide-stimulated hepatic SNU761 cells

• Lee JY
• Shin JW
• Lee EH
• Baek SH
• Ku SW
• Kim JU

• KMID: 1854029
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.58.3.277

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Propofol and barbiturates are both known to protect cells of several organs against ischemia/reperfusion injury, but there are few reports on any possible protective effects on human hepatocytes. We investigated the activities of both agents on human hepatic SNU761 cells under hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress. METHODS: To determine whether propofol and pentobarbital protect hepatocytes from H2O2-induced toxicity, we used SNU761 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line. Cells were pretreated with different dosages (1, 10, 50 micrometer) of propofol or pentobarbital (1, 10, 50, 100, 400 micrometer) 30 min before H2O2 application. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured to assess and quantify cell death. To determine the nature of cell death, treated hepatocytes were doubly stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI), and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Pretreatment with propofol, but not pentobarbital, suppressed H2O2-induced LDH release. In Annexin V-FITC/PI binding analysis, propofol decreased the number of necrotic and late apoptotic cells, but no significant decreases in such cell numbers were seen when pentobarbital was used. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike pentobarbital, propofol, at clinical concentrations, protected SNU-761 HCC cells against oxidative stress.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Hepatocyte; Hydrogen peroxide; Necrosis; Pentobarbital; Propofol

MeSH Terms

Annexin A5
Apoptosis
Barbiturates
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Cell Count
Cell Death
Cell Line
Flow Cytometry
Fluorescein
Hepatocytes
Humans
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Peroxide
Isothiocyanates
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Necrosis
Oxidative Stress
Pentobarbital
Propidium
Propofol
Annexin A5
Barbiturates
Fluorescein
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Peroxide
Isothiocyanates
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Pentobarbital
Propidium
Propofol