Comparison of inhibitory effects of local anesthetics on immune functions of neutrophils

Immunological effects of a variety of local anesthetics on adhesion, phagoc ytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide by neu trophils were compared. Neutrophils were isolated by peritoneal lavage From rats, 4 h after injection of 1% glycogen. Lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine , prilocaine and tetracaine at 1 mg/ml inhibited adhesion, phagocytosis, an d the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in neutrophils. Moreover, lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine and prilocaine at 0.1 mg/ml inhi bited the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide but not adhe sion or phagocytosis. In contrast, tetracaine at 0.1 mg/ml inhibited phagoc ytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide but no t adhesion. Al 0.01 mg/ml, however, tetracaine inhibited the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide; in contrast, other drugs Failed to affect neutrophil function. These results suggest that the local anesthetic s may affect adhesion, phagocytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide by neutrophils. (C) 2000 International Society for I mmunopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.