title: Pentoxifylline inhibits endotoxin-induced NF-kappa B activation and associated production of proinflammatory cytokines.
abstract: The effects of graded doses of pentoxifylline (PTX) on endotoxin-induced production of inflammatory cytokines and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) were studied in vivo in rat intestine. Sepsis was induced in rats by ip injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg). PTX was injected via the tail vein at dosages of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg at 1 min after LPS challenge. NF-kappaB activation in intestine was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were measured in intestine by enzyme-linked immunosorbance assays (ELISA). Intestinal TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 mRNA expression were studied by the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The measurements of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 were performed, respectively, at 1, 4, 4, and 1 hr after endotoxin injection. The results showed that LPS elevated the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 and enhanced NF-kappaB activation in rat intestine. At all dosages, PTX reduced the activation of NF-kappaB and the production of TNF-alpha and IL-6, but enhanced the release of IL-10. These effects were greatest at dosages of 50 mg/kg for TNF-alpha and IL-6, and 25 mg/kg for IL-10. In conclusion, PTX suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 in rat intestine, and enhanced the endotoxin-induced production of IL-10. The suppressive effect of proinflammatory cytokines may act by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation, but not by induction of IL-10.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Lidong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016753:Interleukin-10; D010431:Pentoxifylline