Sevoflurane induces apoptosis of isolated placental trophoblast cells and stimulates expressions of TNF-α and IL-6.

Studies have shown that narcotic drugs may affect the function of placental trophoblast cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sevoflurane on apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokines in isolated placental trophoblast cells. The primary placental trophoblast cells were obtained from a total of 20 parturients, which were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated with 3% sevoflurane for 0 minutes (S0), 15 minutes (S15), 30 minutes (S30) and 60 minutes (S60). The expressions of CK7 and vimentin were detected by immunofluorescence. The apoptosis of trophoblast cells was tested by TUNEL assay. The concentrations and protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 were determined by ELISA and Western-blot. The apoptosis number and apoptosis rate of placental trophoblast cells in S60 and S30 groups were higher than that in S15 and S0 groups (P<0.05). The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in cell culture medium of S60 and S30 groups were elevated as compared to S15 and S0 groups (P<0.05). Compared with S15 and S0 groups, the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in placental trophoblast cells of S60 and S30 groups also showed an significant increase (P<0.05). Moreover, the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 were positively correlated with the apoptosis of cytotrophoblast cells. Using for a long time of sevoflurane induces the apoptosis of placental trophoblast cells and increases the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors, suggesting that the duration of sevoflurane anesthesia should be controlled within 15 minutes.