Conclusion
Our study showed that both propofol and thiopental exerted significant cytotoxic effects on HEK-293 cells at concentrations exceeding clinical levels, primarily by increasing intracellular ROS levels and inducing apoptosis. Future research in this area will deepen our understanding of these mechanisms and improve patient safety in clinical anesthesia practice.
Methods
The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of each drug in HEK-293 cells was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The apoptotic effects were assessed at two different doses of each drug using the annexin V method. Morphological examinations were conducted using the acridine orange/ethidium bromide method, and intracellular ROS levels were determined by flow cytometry.
Results
The IC50 values of propofol and thiopental for HEK-293 cells were 206.59 μg/ml and 109.68 μg/ml, respectively. Compared to the control group, thiopental at ≥25 μg/ml and propofol at ≥50 μg/ml exhibited cytotoxicity. Additionally, propofol exhibited significantly lower cytotoxic effects than thiopental did.