Halogenated Anesthetics reduce interleukin-1 β-induced cytokine secretion by rat alveolar type II cells in primary culture

Background: Alveolar epithelial type 11 (AT(II)) cells participate in the intraalveolar cytokine network by secreting cytokines and are widely exposed to volatile anesthetics during general anesthesia. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane on rat AT(II) cell cytokine secretions in AT(II) primary cell cultures. Methods: Alveolar epithelial type H primary cell cultures were obtained from adult rat lungs. AT(II) cells were stimulated by recombinant murine interleukin-1beta (rmIL-1beta) to mimic an inflammatory response, and immediately exposed for various duration to different concentration of halothane, enflurane, or isoflurane. Interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) protein concentrations were then measured in cell culture supernatants. Recombinant mIL-1beta-stimulated AT(II) cells exposed to air served as control. Results: Halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane (1 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC], 4 h) decreased nilL-10-stilnulated AT(II) cell secretions of interleukin-6, MEP-2, and MCP-1, but did not modify total protein secretion. Halothane exposure decreased rmIL-1beta-stimulated AT(II) cell secretions of interleukin-6, MIP-2, and MCP-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner.