OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of propofol on H19 expression, migration and invasion of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro.

METHODSMDA-MB-231 cells were randomly divided into 5 groups for treatment with basal medium, DMSO, or propofol at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L. H19 expression of the treated cells was assessed with RT-PCR, and the changes of cell motility, migration and invasion were evaluated with wound-healing assay and Transwell assays.

RESULTSTreatment of the cells with 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L propofol for 24 h down-regulated H19 by 17.83%, 37.50% and 63.67% (P<0.05), and suppressed cell motility by 13.46%, 36.54% and 46.17% (P<0.05), cell migration by 27.93%, 57.90% and 76.51% (P<0.05), and cell invasion by 25.72%, 53.32% and 81.43% (P<0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONPropofol-induced cell migration and invasion suppression are partially mediated by down-regulating H19 in MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro.