Conclusions
The present study is the first to reveal that propofol can significantly reduce hepatic I/R injury by regulating the expression of Sirt1, and these effects may be related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Our results suggest that propofol may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hepatic I/R injury in hepatobiliary surgery.
Methods
After treatment with propofol, hepatic I/R injury was induced in mice. Liver injury, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, cytokine production, and apoptotic markers were investigated to assess the effects of propofol pretreatment on hepatic I/R injury. The expression of Sirt1 was assessed by immunohistochemical and western blot analyses, and the expression levels of NF-κB/p65, IκBα, Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by western blot.
Results
After 70% hepatic I/R injury, the mice that were pretreated with propofol showed considerably less liver injury, enhanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity, and less apoptosis. Additional studies revealed that propofol pretreatment prior to I/R injury results in reduced NF-κB activation and apoptosis through Sirt1 activation. Conclusions: The present study is the first to reveal that propofol can significantly reduce hepatic I/R injury by regulating the expression of Sirt1, and these effects may be related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Our results suggest that propofol may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hepatic I/R injury in hepatobiliary surgery.