The role of propofol-mediated neuroinflammation in nervous system diseases

The accelerated ageing of the population is leading to an increase in the incidence and disability of nervous system diseases globally, which is seriously affecting the quality of patient survival. Propofol is a widely used intravenous anaesthetic drug for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. A large number of studies have demonstrated that propofol has a protective effect against nervous system diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This review examines the various signaling pathways through which propofol exerts its modulatory effects on the inflammatory response, as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo experiments. It also presents an overview of the current evidence on the role of inflammation in nervous system diseases associated with isoproterenol treatment. The findings suggest that the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects of propofol are contingent upon the dosage of the drug, the duration of exposure, and the stage of the patient (neonatal and geriatric). It is recommended that care be taken to differentiate between drug dosage and exposure time in order to avoid exacerbating disease progression. Further extensive and in-depth studies will facilitate a fuller understanding of the mechanisms of propofol-mediated inflammation, which will in turn provide new ideas for treating nervous system diseases and drug selection.