Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent research has suggested that general anesthetics may affect the immune system, but it is unclear how they affect the mitochondria of neutrophils. The effects of general anesthetics on neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells mitochondrial function and their production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined in this study. METHODS: HL60 cells were differentiated into neutrophil-like cells by treating them with 1 μM all-trans-retinoic acid for 4 days. The differentiated HL60 cells were exposed to propofol (4 μg ml(-1)), midazolam (0.5 μg ml(-1)), or sevoflurane (3 %) for 1 h or 5 h. Following the exposure to the anesthetics, we analyzed the production of ROS, bactericidal effects, cell viability, and apoptosis of the neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells. We also investigated the effects of these anesthetics on mitochondrial morphology and function of the neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells. RESULTS: Administration of propofol or midazolam activated neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells mitochondrial respiration and increased ATP production (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in production of ROS or cell death. Exposure to sevoflurane activated mitochondrial respiration, ATP production (P < 0.05) and ROS production (P < 0.05). Additionally, exposure to sevoflurane led to a significant increase in phagocytosis. Filamentous mitochondria appeared after treatment with propofol, midazolam, and sevoflurane, while fragmented and filamentous mitochondria were seen in untreated neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells. CONCLUSION: We investigated the effects of three anesthetics on the mitochondrial and bactericidal functions of differentiated HL60 cells. Our results indicate that sevoflurane activates mitochondrial function in differentiated HL60 cells, promotes the production of reactive oxygen species, and enhances bactericidal activity.