Remifentanil induces autophagy and prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in Cos-7 cells

BACKGROUND This study investigated the effect of remifentanil pretreatment on Cos-7 cells exposed to oxidative stress, and the influence of remifentanil on intracellular autophagy and apoptotic cell death. METHODS Cells were divided into 4 groups: (1) Control: non-pretreated cells were incubated in normoxia (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2). (2) H2O2: non-pretreated cells were exposed to H2O2 for 24 h. (3) RPC+H2O2: cells pretreated with remifentanil were exposed to H2O2 for 24 h. (4) 3-MA+RPC+H2O2: cells pretreated with 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) and remifentanil were exposed to H2O2 for 24 h. We determined the cell viability of each group using an MTT assay. Hoechst staining and FACS analysis of Cos-7 cells were performed to observe the effect of remifentanil on apoptosis. Autophagy activation was determined by fluorescence microscopy, MDC staining, and AO staining. The expression of autophagy-related proteins was observed using western blotting. RESULTS Remifentanil pretreatment increased the viability of Cos-7 cells exposed to oxidative stress. Hoechst staining and FACS analysis revealed that oxidative stress-dependent apoptosis was suppressed by the pretreatment. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy showed that remifentanil pretreatment led to autophagy-induction in Cos-7 cells, and the expression of autophagy-related proteins was increased in the RPC+H2O2 group. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that remifentanil pretreatment stimulated autophagy and increased viability in an oxidative stress model of Cos-7 cells. Therefore, we suggest that apoptosis was activated upon oxidative stress, and remifentanil preconditioning increased the survival rate of the cells by activating autophagy.