Differences in microRNA changes of healthy rat liver between sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia

Abstract

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.