title: Propofol inhibits phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro.
abstract: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) are important components of the immunological defence system which protects the human organism from invading bacteria. Using a fluorescence microscopic method, we examined the influence of propofol and its solvent intralipid on phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by PMNL in vitro. Propofol inhibited (P < or = 0.001) phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus as well as Escherichia coli. Killing of Staphylococcus aureus (P < or = 0.001) and of Escherichia coli (P < or = 0.01) was suppressed. Intralipid, by itself, impaired phagocytosis of Escherichia coli (P < or = 0.05). Apart from that, intralipid produced no relevant effects. Additional clinical studies regarding the influence of propofol on PMNL function are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krumholz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endrass
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hempelmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol