Propofol activates vanilloid receptor channels expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is an intravenous anesthetic agent structu rally unrelated to any other intravenous anesthetics. We examined the effec t of propofol on a rat vanilloid receptor that was expressed in the human e mbryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells by using calcium imaging method. Propofol c aused a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+], in the HEK293 cells wit h the receptor. These responses were inhibited by removing extracellular ca lcium ions. The propofol-evoked increase in [Ca2+], in the HEK293 cells wit h the receptor was partially inhibited by capsazepine, a competitive antago nist of capsaicin. We conclude that propofol acts as an agonist for the rec eptor. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.