Fig. 4.
Activation of caspase 3 by lidocaine in Jurkat wild-type and B-cell lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2)–overexpressing cells. Caspase-3 activity was measured in cell lysates after 12 h of treatment with 1.25 μm staurosporine (STS) or the indicated concentrations of lidocaine using the fluorogenic caspase substrate Ac-DEVD-AMC. Overexpression of Bcl-2 strongly prevented caspase-3 activation in response to 3 mm (≈ 0.08%) and 6 mm (≈ 0.16%) lidocaine. Note that after treatment with 10 mm (≈ 0.27%) lidocaine, no activation of caspase 3 was detected. AFU = arbitrary fluorescence units. *P< 0.05.Error barsindicate SD.