Research progress of propofol in alleviating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

• Published in: Pharmacological reports 2024-10, Vol.76 (5), p.962-980
• Main Authors: Zheng, Haijing, Xiao, Xian, Han, Yiming, Wang, Pengwei, Zang, Lili, Wang, Lilin, Zhao, Yinuo, Shi, Peijie, Yang, Pengfei, Guo, Chao, Xue, Jintao, Zhao, Xinghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthetics, Intravenous - pharmacology; Animals; Brain Ischemia - drug therapy; Brain Ischemia - metabolism; Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use; Medicine; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pharmacotherapy; Pharmacy; Propofol - pharmacology; Propofol - therapeutic use; Reperfusion Injury - drug therapy; Reperfusion Injury - metabolism; Review
• ISSN: 1734-1140; 2299-5684; 2299-5684
• DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00620-6

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and death worldwide. The primary treatment for cerebral ischemia patients is to restore blood supply to the ischemic region as quickly as possible. However, in most cases, more severe tissue damage occurs, which is known as cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The pathological mechanisms of brain I/R injury include mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, calcium overload, neuroinflammation, programmed cell death and others. Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), a short-acting intravenous anesthetic, possesses not only sedative and hypnotic effects but also immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. Numerous studies have reported the protective properties of propofol during brain I/R injury. In this review, we summarize the potential protective mechanisms of propofol to provide insights for its better clinical application in alleviating cerebral I/R injury.