In vitro induction of antibody-dependent cytotoxic macrophages by the local anesthetic lidocaine.

Normal macrophages were activated to antibody-dependent cytotoxic effector cells by in vitro treatment with the local anesthetic lidocaine. Experiments on the dose-response and time course of the effect oflidocaine showed that incubation of normal macrophages with 10 mM lidocaine for 10 min at 28 C was enough for induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The activation by lidocaine was accompanied by enhanced phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) sensitized with anti-SRBC antiserum, but not enhanced ingestion of polystyrene latex particles (PLP). These findings suggest that lidocaine, which has various effects on cell membranes, induces some perturbation of macrophage membranes, resulting in activation of Fc receptor functions in antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and phagocytosis.