Propofol Protects Rat Cardiomyocytes from Anthracycline-Induced Apoptosis by Regulating MicroRNA-181a In Vitro and In Vivo

We aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect and mechanism of propofol in anthracycline-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We selected the rat myocardial cell line, H9c2, and primary cardiomyocytes for in vitro study. The cardiomyocytes were treated with vehicle, Adriamycin® (ADM), propofol, or a combination of ADM and propofol. The proportion of apoptotic cells and the expression of miR-181a were detected by flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. Luciferase assays were performed to explore the direct target gene of miR-181a. In vivo assay, rats were randomly divided into different treatment groups. The apoptosis index was determined by TUNEL staining, and the expression of miR-181a and STAT3 in heart tissue was detected. The antiproliferative effect of ADM alone was significantly greater than that of ADM plus propofol. A significantly greater decrease in the proportion of apoptotic cells and in miR-181a expression was observed in the combination treatment group compared with that in the ADM groups in vitro and in vivo. The loss-of-function of miR-181a in H9c2 of ADM treatment resulted in increased Bcl-2 and decreased Bax. MiR-181a suppressed Bcl-2 expression through direct targeting of the Bcl-2 transcript. Propofol reduced anthracycline-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes via targeting miR-181a/Bcl-2, and a negative correlation between miR-181a and Bcl-2 was observed.