title: The effect of the anaesthetic agent isoflurane on the rate of neutrophil apoptosis in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Volatile anaesthetic agents influence neutrophil function, and potentially, the inflammatory response to surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the effect of isoflurane (1-4%) on human polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood from 12 healthy volunteers was exposed to 0, 1, and 4% isoflurane delivered via a 14G Wallace flexihub internal jugular cannula, at a fresh gas flow of 0.51/min for 5 minutes. Isolated neutrophils were assessed for apoptosis at 1, 12, and 24 hours in culture using dual staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (Annexin-V FITC assay). Data were analysed using paired, one-tailed Student's t-tests. p<0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1 hour apoptosis was inhibited in the 1% (5.1 [6.8]%; p=0.017) and 4% (4.8 [4.5]%; p=0.008) isoflurane groups compared to control (11.3 [6.9]%). At 12 and 24 hours, a dose-dependent inhibition of apoptosis was demonstrated, i.e. 4% > 1% > 0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human neutrophil apoptosis is inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro by isoflurane in clinical concentrations.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork University Hospital, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Tyther
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Fanning
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Halligan
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Redmond
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Shorten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane