Ketamine inhibits LPS-induced calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activation in monocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether ketamine could inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intracellular calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activation in monocytes.


METHODS
Isolated rat monocytes were challenged with 10 microg/ml LPS with or without the presence of various concentrations of ketamine (10, 100, 1000 microM). Intracellular calcium was monitored by laser confocal microscopy. NF-kappa B activity of the nuclear extracts of monocytes was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).


RESULTS
LPS provoked a significant calcium elevation and enhanced NF-kappa B activity in monocytes. Ketamine above concentration of 100 microM inhibited endotoxin-induced intracellular calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activity. Ketamine itself had no effect on either of them.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that ketamine could suppress NF-kappa B in monocytes exposed to endotoxin, and this anti-inflammatory effect might act through attenuating intracellular calcium elevation.
Sun
J
J
Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, 210002, Nanjiing, China. dgsunjie@hotmail.com
Zhou
Z Q
ZQ
Lv
R
R
Li
W Y
WY
Xu
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D004731:Endotoxins; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D007649:Ketamine; D002118:Calcium