Propofol prevents lung injury after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion by inhibiting the interaction between mast cell activation and oxidative stress

Aims: Both mast cells and oxidative stress are involved in acute lung injury (ALL) induced by intestinal ischemiareperfusion (IIR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether propofol could improve IIR-induced ALL through inhibiting their interaction. Main methods: Repetitive, brief HR or IIR + compound 48/80 was performed in adult Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with saline, apocynin or propofol. And their lungs were excised for histology, ELISA and proteinexpression measurements 2 h after reperfusion. Key findings: Rats pretreated with saline developed critical ALL 2 h after HR. We found significant elevations in lung injury scores, lung wet/dry ratio and gp9lphox, p47phox, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 protein expressions and higher level of malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 contents, and myeloperoxidase activities, as well as significant reductions in superoxide dismutase activities, accompanied with increases in mast cell degranulation evidenced by significant increases in mast cell counts, f3-hexosaminidase concentrations, and tryptase expression. And the lung injury was aggravated in the presence of compound 48/80. However, pretreated with propofol and apocynin not only ameliorated the IIR-mediated pulmonary changes beyond the biochemical changes but also reversed the changes that were aggravated by compound 48/80. Significance: Propofol protects against IIR-mediated ALI, most likely by inhibiting the interaction between oxidative stress and mast cell degranulation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.