Abstract
Propofol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol, is a short-acting intravenous sedative agent used in adults and children. Current studies show its various antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory effects. Dengue virus (DENV) is an emerging infectious pathogen transmitted by mosquitoes that causes mild dengue fever and progressive severe dengue diseases. In the absence of safe vaccines and antiviral agents, adjuvant treatments and supportive care are generally administered. This study investigated the antiviral effects of propofol against DENV infection and cellular inflammation by using an in vitro cell model. Treatment with propofol significantly inhibited DENV release 24 h postinfection in BHK-21 cells. Furthermore, it also blocked viral protein expression independent of the translational blockade. Propofol neither caused inhibitory effects on endosomal acidification nor prevented dsRNA replication. Either the proinflammatory TNF-α or the antiviral STAT1 signaling was reduced by propofol treatment. These results provide evidence to show the potential antiviral effects of the sedative propofol against DENV infection and cellular inflammation.
Highlights
The anesthetic propofol is routinely used in the short term to provide a rapid onset and offset of sedation in critically ill patients under intensive care [1]
The results showed that propofol significantly (p < 0:001) reduced dengue virus (DENV) virion release, as demonstrated by the viral titer, at doses of 5, 10, 25, and 50 μg/ml (Figure 1(b))
These results indicate that propofol treatment effectively blocks DENV infection
Summary
The anesthetic propofol is routinely used in the short term to provide a rapid onset and offset of sedation in critically ill patients under intensive care [1]. Treatment with propofol confers a range of pharmacodynamic effects from amnestic, muscle relaxant, and hypnotic effects to anesthesia. General anesthetics, including propofol, remifentanil, and ketamine, exert antimicrobial and microbial growth-promoting effects against bacterial infection [4, 5]. Clinical presentations of DENV infection range from mild dengue fever to severe dengue diseases, including dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) and multiorgan involvement. Severe dengue has a mortality rate ranging from 5 to 20%. Due to its emerging disease status, safe and long-term protective DENV vaccines and anti-DENV drugs are essential for dengue prevention and treatment
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