In vitro study on the inhibitory effect of ketamine to LPS-induced apoptosis in HUVEC culture

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure and treatment with ketamine to the levels of nitric oxide, intracellular calcium and caspase-3 of human umbilical vein endothelial cell culture. Methods This research used the human umbilical vein endothelial cell culture with LPS induction. ELISA was conducted to measure the levels of apoptosis markers such as nitric oxide, intracellular calcium and caspase-3. Results The results showed significant elevation of all parameters after LPS induction. Ketamine addition resulted in various effects. Measurement of intracellular calcium and caspase-3 showed similar result, in which the inhibitory effect of ketamine was more effective when added at the same time as LPS. Vice versa , in nitric oxide measurement, the highest inhibitory effect of ketamine was obtained when added 6 h after LPS induction. Conclusions At least in part, ketamine was suggested to have inhibitory effect in apoptosis mechanism.