Abstract: AIM: To observe the effect of lidocaine to the activation of NF-κB and apoptosis in human neutrophils( PMN) in vitro.METHODS: Human PMN were divided into five groups:control group (0.9 % sodium chloride);TNF-α( 200 ng/L);TNF-α +lidocaine ( 1.0 mmol/L);TNF-α+lidocaine ( 2.0 mmol/L), and TNF-α+ lidocaine ( 4.0 mmol/L).The expression of NF-κB subunit p65 mRNA in the nuclear and I-κB mRNA in the cytosol extracts were analyzed by Western blotting, after co-incubation for 3 h and the content of p65 protein were observed by RT-PCR. PMN apoptosis was detected on flow cytometry after coincubation 12 h and 24 h.RESULTS: The expression of NF-κB mRNA was significantly decreased and the expression of I-κB mRNA was markedly increased in lidocaine groups ( P <0.05).The expression of p65 was significantly better in lidocaine ( 2.0 mmol/L), and lidocaine ( 4.0 mmol/L) than that in lidocaine ( 1.0 mmol/L).There was no significant difference between lidocaine ( 2.0 mmol/L) and lidocaine ( 4.0 mmol/L).The PMN apoptosis induced by TNF-αwas significant inhibited by dolicaine at 12 h and 24 h( P <0.05), and lidocaine ( 4.0 mmol/L) significant was better than that lidocaine ( 1.0 mmol/L) ( P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Lidocaine( 1.0 、2.0 or 4.0 mmol/L) can down-regulate the expression of NF-κB subunit p65 mRNA induced by TNF-αand the content of p65 protein in human PMN, and lidocaine can significant reverse the PMN apoptosis induced by TNF-α.

Key words: lidocaine, anti-inflammatory, NF-κB;, subunit p65, apoptosis