Fig. 3.
Lidocaine induces a loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is preserved by B-cell lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2). Jurkat wild-type and cells overexpressing Bcl-2 were treated for 24 h with 1.25 μm staurosporine (STS) or the indicated concentration of lidocaine. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured by staining with the potentiometric dye JC-1 and subsequent flow cytometry. The fraction of wild-type cells with reduced ΔΨm was dose-dependently increased after lidocaine treatment, whereas ΔΨm remained stable in Bcl-2–overexpressing cells. In contrast, Bcl-2 did not preserve ΔΨm after treatment with 10 mm (≈ 0.27%) lidocaine. *P< 0.05.Error barsindicate SD.