Korean J Anesthesiol.  2015 Oct;68(5):488-495. 10.4097/kjae.2015.68.5.488.

Propofol attenuates hydrogenperoxide-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via multiple signaling pathways

• Xie CL
• Pan YB
• Hu LQ
• Qian YN

• KMID: 2148658
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.5.488

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Propofol has been reported to protect vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and examined the possible signaling pathways.
METHODS
HUVECs were pretreated with propofol (1, 5, 25, and 50 microM) for 30 min and then co-incubated with 0.4 mM H2O2 for 4 h. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and evaluated by quantifying caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression levels. The expression levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, cJun-N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated (p)-JNK, Akt and phosphorylated Akt [(p)-Akt] (Ser473) were measured by western blotting.
RESULTS
H2O2 treatment induced the activation of caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated Bax expression, all of which were dose-dependently attenuated by propofol pretreatment. Furthermore, propofol significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt in HUVECs.
CONCLUSIONS
Propofol can protect HUVECs against H2O2-induced apoptosis via a mechanism that may involve p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt signaling pathways.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Human umbilical vein endothelial cell; Hydrogen peroxide; Propofol

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis*
Blotting, Western
Caspase 3
Cell Count
Cell Survival
Endothelial Cells
Flow Cytometry
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells*
Humans*
Hydrogen Peroxide
Oxidative Stress
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Phosphorylation
Phosphotransferases
Propofol*
Protein Kinases
Caspase 3
Hydrogen Peroxide
Phosphotransferases
Propofol
Protein Kinases
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases