Propofol Depresses Angiotensin II-induced Cell Proliferation in Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts

Background: Propofol may have beneficial effects on the prevention of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation via its antioxidative properties. The authors hypothesized that propofol may alter Ang II-incluced cell proliferation and aimed to identify the putative underlying signaling pathways in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Methods: Cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts were pretreated with propofol then stimulated with Ang 1: cell proliferation and endothelin-1 gene expression were examined, The effect of propofol on Ang II-induced nicotnamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity, reactive oxygen species formation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. and activator protein 1-mediated reporter activity were also examined. The effect of propofol on nitric oxide production and protein kinase B and endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylations were also tested to elucidate the intracellular mechanism of propofol in proliferation. Results: Ang II (100 nm) increased cell proliferation and endothelin-1 expression, which were partially inhibited by propofol (10 or 30 Am), Propofol also inhibited Ang II-increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase activity, reactive oxygen species formation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. and activator protein 1-mediated reporter activity. Propofol was also found to increase nitric oxide generation and protein kinase B and nitric oxide synthase phosphorylations. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (N-nitro-L-arginine methylester) and the short interfering RNA transfection for protein kinase B or endothelial nitric oxide synthase markedly attenuated the inhibitory effect of propofol on Ang II-induced cell proliferation. Conclusions: The authors' results suggest that propofol prevents cardiac fibroblast proliferation by interfering with the generation of reactive oxygen species and involves the activation of the protein kinase B-endothelial nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide pathway.