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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays
Published on: July 4, 2018
Inhibitory effects of intravenous anesthetics on mast cell function
Takahiro Fujimoto1, Tomoki Nishiyama, Kazuo Hanaoka
1Department of Anesthesiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Unlabelled:
Mast cells play a protective role in the inflammation and auto-tissue injury. The impairment of mast cell function may influence defense against infection. We investigated the effect of four IV anesthetics (thiopental, midazolam, ketamine, and propofol) on the chemotaxis and exocytosis of mast cells. Canine mast cell chemotaxis was measured by the Boyden's blindwell chamber technique using 100 microg/mL of substance P as a stimulator. We measured mast cell exocytosis by measuring released histamine from mast cells using substance P or gamma-monomeric IgG-mediated crosslinking as a stimulator. Thiopental, midazolam, and propofol exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mast cell chemotaxis. Ketamine, midazolam, and propofol had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mast cell exocytosis. In conclusion, midazolam and propofol inhibited both chemotaxis and exocytosis of mast cells, while thiopental only inhibited chemotaxis, and ketamine only inhibited exocytosis.
Implications:
Mast cells play an important role in the antibacterial host-defense mechanism. Thiopental, midazolam, and propofol exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mast cell chemotaxis. Ketamine, midazolam, and propofol had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mast cell exocytosis. The impairment of mast cell function by IV anesthetics may influence the defense against infection.
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