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Published on: July 25, 2025
Differences in microRNA changes of healthy rat liver between sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia
Masashi Ishikawa1, Shunsuke Tanaka, Masae Arai
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. masashi-i@nms.ac.jp
Background:
In previous studies, the authors showed that anesthetics affect the expression ratios of many genes in rat liver. microRNAs (miRNA) negatively regulate more than 30% of genes in cells, and control cell proliferation, inflammation, and metabolism. The authors hypothesized that anesthetics influence miRNA expression in the liver, and performed miRNA screening tests using TaqMan low-density arrays.
Methods:
Rats were randomly assigned to the 2.4% sevoflurane group, the 600 µg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ propofol group, and the control group without anesthetics. Rats were allowed to breathe spontaneously under anesthesia for 6 h. The miRNA expression profile of the liver was analyzed, and 15 representative miRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
TaqMan low-density arrays analysis showed 46 miRNAs that were differentially expressed by anesthetics. After sevoflurane treatment, 16 miRNAs were significantly increased and 11 were significantly decreased compared with controls, whereas after propofol treatment, 31 miRNAs were increased and 8 were decreased. Twenty expressed miRNAs were common to both anesthetics, whereas three miRNAs were differentially expressed. Bland-Altman analysis was performed across the validations to compare the fold changes measured by both methods, and they were equivalent (mean difference=0.01, 95% CI=-0.26 to 0.27). This showed that the TaqMan low-density arrays results are accurate and can be confirmed using an independent experimental approach.
Conclusion:
The results showed that anesthetics cause many miRNA expression changes, and the miRNA expression pattern was particular for each anesthetic. Further studies are needed to determine the functional consequence of miRNA modulation by anesthetics.
Insights
Anesthetics significantly alter microRNA (miRNA) expression in rat liver, with distinct patterns for sevoflurane and propofol. These findings highlight the impact of anesthesia on gene regulation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Anesthetics are known to affect gene expression ratios in the liver.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, influencing cellular processes like proliferation, inflammation, and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that anesthetics influence miRNA expression in the rat liver.
- To screen for differentially expressed miRNAs following exposure to sevoflurane and propofol.
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to sevoflurane, propofol, or no anesthetic (control) for 6 hours.
- Liver miRNA expression profiles were analyzed using TaqMan low-density arrays.
- Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for validation.
Main Results:
- Anesthetic treatment resulted in differential expression of 46 miRNAs.
- Sevoflurane increased 16 miRNAs and decreased 11, while propofol increased 31 and decreased 8.
- Bland-Altman analysis confirmed the accuracy of the array results compared to qRT-PCR.
Conclusions:
- Anesthetics induce significant changes in miRNA expression in the liver.
- Each anesthetic agent exhibited a unique miRNA expression pattern.
- Further research is required to elucidate the functional implications of anesthetic-induced miRNA modulation.
