目的 To observe the effects of propofol on the inflammatory response in microglia during intermittent hypoxia (IH), as a result of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).方法 The levels of nuclear factor- кB (NF-кB) inhibitor (IкB) and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) exposed to IH with or without propofol treatment were detected by Western blot.The viability of cells exposed to various concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 250 μM) of propofol was monitored with MTT assay.The protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively.结果 IH exposure promoted the activation of NF-кB/p38 MAPK signalling and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6.Propofol was not toxic to microglia.Compared with the control group, propofol attenuated the IH-induced activation of NF-кB and p38 MAPK, which accompanied with reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.结论 Propofol down-regulated the IH-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine, and inhibit inflammatory responses in microglia.The effect might be based on attenuation of the p38 MAPK and NF-кB siglnalling pathways.Propofol could contribute to alleviating IH-induced inflammatory response in OSA by inhibiting p38 MAPK and NF-кB mediated inflammation in microglia.