Propofol reduces the migration of human leukocytes through endothelial cell monolayers

Objective: To test propofol and the solvent of propofol on leukocyte functi on in the presence of endothelial cell monolayers, The interactions of leuk ocytes with endothelial cells play a tremendous role during inflammation. P revious studies have investigated the influence of propofol on leukocytes. Design:Prospective, controlled study. Setting: University research laboratories, Subjects: Seven independent experiments were performed to investigate the i nfluence of propofol (0.4, 4, acid 40 ng/mL) on the migration of human leuk ocytes through human endothelial cell monolayers, Moreover, the authors tes ted the solvent of propofol on leukocyte migration. Interventions: Human endothelial cell monolayers and/or human leukocytes we re preincubated with clinically relevant higher and lower concentrations of propofol, The amount of leukocyte migration after 3 hrs was measured with a fluorometer, Measurements and Main Results: Human endothelial cells isolated from umbili cal veins were cultured on microporous membranes until they formed an endot helial cell monolayer, Leukocytes were separated by standard procedures. Th e migration of leukocytes through monolayers of endothelial cells using the clinically relevant concentration of propofol was reduced to 93% +/- 3.8% (SD; p < .05) when the leukocytes but not the endothelial cell monolayers w ere preincubated with propofol, Leukocyte migration was reduced to 80% +/- 5.9% (p < .05) when only monolayers of endothelial cells were treated with propofol, and was reduced to 73% +/- 10.4% (p < .05) when both leukocytes a nd monolayers of endothelial cells were treated with propofol, The higher a nd lower concentrations showed a dose-dependent effect. The solvent of prop ofol had no significant effect. Conclusion: The authors investigated the influence of propofol and its solv ent on the interaction between both cell systems-leukocytes and endothelial cells. Propofol is able to reduce significantly the migration of leukocyte s through endothelial cell monolayers, The use of different doses revealed a dose-dependent effect. The current model allowed treatment of one cell ty pe: leukocyte or endothelial cell. The results of this investigation indica te that the influence of propofol on leukocyte migration affects endothelia l cells more than leukocytes.