Abstract: Objective  To investigate the effects of different target concentrations of propofol on mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines as interleuk
in-1（IL-1）,interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery,and to explore the ideal concentration of propofol in Chinese people for clinical use. Methods Sixty patients underwent CPB were randomly assigned into three groups (n=20) according to the different target concentrations:group A,2 mg?L-1; group B,3 mg?L-1;group C,4 mg.L^-1.The blood samples were taken at the time of induction(T1),right after CPB(T2),30 min after CPB(T3),60 min after CPB(T4) and 3 h after CPB(T5).The mRNA expressions of cytokines were detected by RT-PCR.Results  The levels of the serum cytokine expressions of the patients in three groups showed no difference before C
PB,while the levels of all cytokines rushed up after CPB and went up at peak between 30-60 min after CPB,which had great differences at T1,T2,T3 and
T4 compared with T0.Compared with group A,the levels of all cytokines in group B and group C  were significantly decreased(P<0.05).However,the expression levels of cytokines  had no difference between group B and group C. Conclusion Propofol can inhibit the expressions of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines,including IL-1,IL-6 and TNF-α,in patients underwent CPB surgery;therefore inhibit inflammatory reaction.The recom
mended target concentration of propofol would be 3 mg.L^-1 in CPB surgery. 

Key words: propofol, cytokine, cardiopulmonary bypass, tumor necrosis factor-&alpha, interleukin-1, interleukin-6