Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40754850›Full record

ArticleKorean journal of anesthesiology2026

Receptor subtype-dependent effects of propofol on metalloproteinase activity, NKG2D ligand expression, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer: an in vitro study.

Hyun-Su Ri, Hyeon Jeong Lee, Jaeho Bae, Ah-Reum Cho, Jae Rin Kim, Seungbin Park, Kah Young Lee, Soeun Jeon

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Korean journal of anesthesiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Lipid emulsion as a vehicle for propofol.Korean journal of anesthesiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hyun-Su RiDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Hyeon Jeong LeeDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Jaeho BaeDepartment of Biochemistry, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
Ah-Reum ChoDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Jae Rin KimBiomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Seungbin ParkBiomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Kah Young LeeDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
Soeun JeonDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.

Funding

Ministry of Science and ICT RS-2022-00167068National Research Foundation of Korea
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe effects of propofol, a commonly used intravenous anesthetic, on the breast cancer tumor microenvironment are not well understood. This study examined the influence of propofol on natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligand expression, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated immune evasion, and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells.

methodsWe studied three human breast cancer cell lines representing distinct receptor subtypes: MCF-7 (estrogen receptor - and progesterone receptor-positive), MDA-MB-453 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive), and HCC-70 (triple-negative). Cells were treated with propofol at concentrations of 0 μg/ml (control; C), 4 μg/ml (P4), or 8 μg/ml (P8). Assessments included mRNA and protein expression of NKG2D ligands, NK cell cytotoxicity, protein levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2, and concentrations of soluble NKG2D ligands.

resultsIn MCF-7 and HCC-70 cell lines, propofol upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of NKG2D ligands in a dose-dependent manner, enhancing NK cell-mediated lysis. In contrast, in MDA-MB-453 cell lines, propofol downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of NKG2D ligands, resulting in diminished NK cell-mediated lysis. Across all receptor subtypes, propofol did not affect the expression of MMP-1 or MMP-2 or the concentration of soluble NKG2D ligands.

conclusionsOur results demonstrate that propofol exerts receptor subtype-dependent effects on NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance in breast cancer cell lines, potentially mediated by changes in the transcription of NKG2D ligands rather than by alterations in MMP expression or their proteolytic activity.

Indexed as

Anesthetics, IntravenousBreast NeoplasmsCytotoxicity, ImmunologicKiller Cells, NaturalMetalloproteasesNK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily KPropofolCell Line, TumorDose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleHumansLigandsMatrix Metalloproteinase 2MCF-7 CellsAnesthetics, IntravenousKLRK1 protein, humanLigandsMatrix Metalloproteinase 2MetalloproteasesNK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily KPropofolBreast neoplasmsIntravenous anestheticsMatrix metalloproteinasesNatural killer cellsPropofolTriple negative breast neoplasmsULBP2 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID40754850
PMCPMC13054554

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.