Korean J Anesthesiol.
2004 Sep;47(3):409-418. 10.4097/kjae.2004.47.3.409.
The Effects of Intravenous Anesthetics on Human Cytomegalovirus Infection
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gangnung Asan Hospital, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Gangnung, Korea. hae@gnah.co.kr
- 2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
- KMID: 2299113
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.47.3.409
Abstract
-
BACKGROUND: Reactivation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) from latency is a frequent complication of organ transplantation, and the molecular mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Previous studies have shown that allogenaic transplantation combined with immunosuppression may be required to achieve complete reactivation in vivo and many anesthetics have wide range immunomodulatory properties. HCMV infection of endothelial cells plays an important role in the establishment of latency and persistence, which appears critical for the maintenance of HCMV within the host.
METHODS
We compared the effects of intravenous anaesthetics (propofol, thiopental, and ketamine) on the susceptability of endothelial cells to HCMV infection by indirect immunofluorescent assay at 48 hour postinfection and we also have investigated the time course of luciferase gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) infected with recombinant HCMV.
RESULTS
Treatment with anesthetics after HCMV strain Towne inoculation did not increase HUVEC susceptibility to HCMV infection by indirect immunofluorescent assay. Treatment of HUVEC with propofol, thiopental, and ketamine after the recombinant virus inoculation had no significant effects on the level of the late genes expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous anesthetics (propofol, thiopental, and ketamine) did not increase the susceptability of endothelial cells to HCMV infection at plasma concentrations. Further studies are required to evaluate higher anesthetic concentration which may increases the susceptability of HUVEC to HCMV infection without cell destruction.
