OBJECTIVETo investigate the antioxidant and anti-endotoxin effects of propofol on endothelial cells and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSCultured endothelial cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), propofol + H(2)O(2), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and propofol + LPS, respectively. Endothelial cell damage was monitored for possible lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The transcription and the protein expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured.

RESULTSLDH release was higher in groups treated with H(2)O(2) or LPS than in the control group. After pretreatment with propofol, the effects induced by H(2)O(2) were attenuated, but propofol did not decrease the LDH release induced by LPS. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS transcript levels and the increases were significantly attenuated after pretreatment with propofol. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS protein expression and the increase was attenuated after pretreatment with propofol.

CONCLUSIONPropofol could protect endothelial cells against oxidative stress by inhibiting eNOS transcription and protein expression, but could not antagonise endotoxin induced cell injuries.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endotoxins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Propofol ; pharmacology

The aging population is an important issue around the world especially in developed countries. Although medical advances have substantially extended life span, the same cannot be said for the duration of health span. We are seeing increasing numbers of elderly people who are frail and/or have multiple chronic conditions; all of these can affect the quality of life of the elderly population as well as increase the burden on the healthcare system. Aging is mechanistically related to common medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cognitive decline, and frailty. A recently accepted concept termed 'Accelerated Biological Aging' can be diagnosed when a person's biological age-as measured by biomarkers of DNA methylation-is older than their corresponding chronological age. Taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid, has received much attention in the past few years. A substantial number of animal studies have provided a strong scientific foundation suggesting that this amino acid can improve cellular and metabolic health, including blood glucose control, so much that it has been labelled one of the 'longevity amino acids'. In this review article, we propose the rationale that an adequately powered randomized-controlled-trial (RCT) is needed to confirm whether taurine can meaningfully improve metabolic and microbiome health, and biological age. This trial should incorporate certain elements in order to provide the much-needed evidence to guide doctors, and also the community at large, to determine whether this promising and inexpensive amino acid is useful in improving human metabolic health.