Sevoflurane promotes the expansion of glioma stem cells through activation of hypoxia-inducible factors in vitro

Background Growing evidences indicate that inhalational anaesthetics can enhance the growth and malignant potential of tumour cells and may affect tumour recurrence after surgery. Tumour stem cells play a vital role in tumour recurrence. This study investigates the effect of sevoflurane on glioma stem cells (GSCs) in vitro and the underlying molecular mechanisms in this process. Methods Cultured GSCs were exposed to clinically relevant concentrations and durations of sevoflurane exposure. Cell proliferation and self-renewal capacity were determined. Expression of the stem cell marker CD133, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), and phosphorylated Akt, which is a protein kinase invoved in multiple cellular processes, were measured using western blotting. Small interfering RNAs and an Akt inhibitor were used to investigate specific pathways. Results Compared with controls, cells exposed to 2% sevoflurane for 6 h induced a larger number of proliferated cells (31.2±7.6% vs 19.0±5.8%; P Conclusions Sevoflurane can promote the expansion of human GSCs through HIFs in vitro. Inhaled anaesthetics may enhance tumour growth through tumour stem cells.