Oxidative stress and mitochondrial glutathione in human lymphocytes exposed to clinically relevant anesthetic drug concentrations

: Study objectiveTo evaluate the potential of compounds commonly used in anesthesia practice to affect the intracellular oxidant-antioxidant homeostasis of peripheral blood lymphocytes at clinically relevant concentrations; and to study the changes in reactive oxygen species production and measure the mitochondrial glutathione content.: DesignProspective, in vitro study.: SettingExperimental medical research laboratory at a University Hospital.: MeasurementsLymphocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of 15 healthy donors and incubated for 12 hours at 37°C with the following drug concentrations: thiopental sodium 20 mmoL/mL, droperidol 130 μmol/mL, propofol 60 mmoL/mL, and succinylcholine 17 mmoL/mL. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined by hydroethidine and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate methods. Mitochondrial glutathione level was assessed using monobromobimane staining.: Measurements and main resultsThiopental-treated lymphocytes exhibited an overgeneration of ROS, but no change was detected in mitochondrial glutathione quantity. Propofol and droperidol could not induce any perturbative effect on the oxidative state of T cells, whereas succinylcholine was found to markedly affect lymphocyte oxidative state both by impairing glutathione content and promoting exaggerated production of ROS.: ConclusionDrugs commonly used in anesthesia practice may significantly alter the oxidative state of peripheral T cells. This mechanism could contribute to the immune suppression that occurs transiently in the early postoperative period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]