Effects of lidocaine on the function of immunocompetent cells. I. In vitro exposure of mouse spleen lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages.

In vitro exposure of mouse lymphocytes and macrophages for 24 h to noncytotoxic doses of lidocaine (10(-4) to 10(-6)M) resulted in inhibition of random macrophage motility and in an interference with the production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor or with its interaction with the cell surface. The effects of lidocaine, membrane-stabilizing local anesthetic, were related to its concentration in the medium and to its ability to interact with the cell surface and cause changes in the ionic configuration of the plasma membrane. The drug conferred permanent changes on the surface of lymphocytes at all concentrations tested, but changes in the surface of macrophages induced by 10(-5) and 10(-6)M lidocaine were reversible. The presence of noncytotoxic doses of lidocaine in the cellular environment resulted in significant changes in cellular functions that appeared to be related to the ability of the drug to interact with cell membranes in a manner determined by the specific properties of the cell.