Background: Previous studies have suggested that perioperative anesthesia could have direct impacts on cancer cell biology. The present study investigated the effects of ropivacaine administration on lung adenocarcinoma cells.
Methods: Ropivacaine was administered to A549 cells at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 6 mM for 2 h. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was performed 6 h prior to ropivacaine administration. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed with cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and a wound healing assay at 0 and 24 h after anesthesia exposure. PCR arrays were performed, followed by PCR validation.
Results: Ropivacaine administration inhibited A549 cell proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner, with ACE2 upregulation and HIF1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) downregulation. The anticancer effect of ropivacaine was canceled out via ACE2 siRNA transfection. PCR arrays showed specific gene change patterns in the ropivacaine and respective ACE2-knockdown groups. EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), BAX (Bcl-2-associated X protein) and BCL2 (B-cell/CLL lymphoma 2) were suppressed with ropivacaine administration; these effects were reversed via ACE2 siRNA induction.
Conclusion: Ropivacaine administration inhibited A549 cell biology in conjunction with ACE2 upregulation via the inhibition of the Wnt1 (wingless/Integrated 1) pathway.
Keywords: ACE2; HIF1α; PCR array; Wnt1 pathway; ropivacaine.