Sevoflurane Inhibits Glioma Cells Proliferation and Metastasis through miRNA-124-3p/ROCK1 Axis

Malignant glioma is the most common primary malignancy in the brain. It is aggressive, highly invasive, and destructive. Studies have shown that sevoflurane can affect the invasion and migration of a variety of malignant tumors. However, its effects on human glioma cells and related mechanisms are not clear. Cultured U251 and U87 cells were pretreated with sevoflurane. The effect of sevoflurane on cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and invasion ability were evaluated by MTT, wound healing assay, cell apoptosis and transwell assays, respectively. miRNA-124-3p and ROCK1 signaling pathway genes expression in sevoflurane treated cell lines was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting analysis. The potential target genes of miRNA were predicted by online software. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to validate the direct targeting of ROCK1 by miRNA-124-3p. In present studies, sevoflurane inhibits glioma cells proliferation, invasion and migration. Additionally, inversely correlation between miR-124-3p and ROCK1 expression in sevoflurane treated glioma cells was observed. Furthermore, sevoflurane inhibits glioma cells proliferation, migration and invasion through miR-124-3p/ROCK1 axis. Taken together, our study revealed that sevoflurane can inhibit glioma cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of miR-124-3p, which suppresses ROCK1 signaling pathway. The results of the study will help to understand the pharmacological effects of inhaled general anesthetics more comprehensively and help to provide an experimental basis for selecting more reasonable anesthetics for cancer patients.