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

Immunological effects of a variety of local anesthetics on adhesion, phagocytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide by neutrophils 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, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in neutrophils. Moreover, lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine and prilocaine at 0.1 mg/ml inhibited the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide but not adhesion or phagocytosis. In contrast, tetracaine at 0.1 mg/ml inhibited phagocytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide but not adhesion. At 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 anesthetics may affect adhesion, phagocytosis, and the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide by neutrophils.