Caspase-2 and microRNA34a/c regulate lidocaine-induced dorsal root ganglia apoptosis in vitro

Epidural administration of lidocaine may cause neurotoxicity in spinal cord dorsal root ganglia neurons (DRGNs). In this study, we explored the underling mechanisms of apoptotic pathways of lidocaine-induced apoptosis in DRGNs. Neonatal rat DRGNs were treated with lidocaine to induced apoptosis in vitro. Western blot showed caspase- (casp-) 2/3/9 proteins were all upregulated by lidocaine in DRGNs. However, inhibition of casp-2 protected lidocaine-induced apoptosis in DRGNs, whereas Casp3/9 inhibition did not. The possible upstream epigenetic regulators of casp-2, microRNA-34 (miR-34) family, including miR-34a/b/c, were evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR. We found miR-34a/c, but not miR-34b, were down-regulated in lidocaine-induced DRGN apoptosis. Subsequent upregulation of miR-34 family showed miR-34a/c were able to inhibit casp-2 and protect lidocaine-induced apoptosis in DRGNs, whereas miR-34b did not. Thus, out study shows that casp-2, in association with miR-34a/c was actively involved in lidocaine-induced apoptosis in DRGNs. Inhibiting casp-2 or upregulating miR-34a/c may provide novel meanings to protect local anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity.