title: Pentoxifylline decreases soluble CD40 ligand concentration and CD40 gene expression in coronary artery disease patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased level of inflammatory mediators plays a central role in the features of coronary artery diseases (CAD). As pentoxifylline could suppress the inflammatory process and has shown some promising beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases, we evaluated the effect of 2 months pentoxifylline administration in patients with CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study design was used. Forty CAD patients (32 males and 8 females) were randomized into either 2 months of pentoxifylline treatment (1200 mg/day) (n = 20) or placebo treatment (n = 20). Blood samples were obtained before and after treatment. Gene expression analysis for mRNA of CD40, p65 and IκBα in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were performed using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma concentration of soluble CD40 (sCD40) ligand as well as protein concentration of p50 were measured by ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pentoxifylline decreased CD40 mRNA by 45% (p < 0.05) in PBMCs and sCD40 ligand level in plasma of CAD patients by 34% (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentoxifylline treatment can suppress the CD40/CD40 ligand system activation in CAD patients. As this system has a role in plaque progression and plaque rupture, pentoxifylline could be a good choice for future studies in preventing cardiovascular events.
authors: Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Jamal
authors: J
authors: Shamsara
authors: Amir Hooshang
authors: AH
authors: Mohammadpour
authors: Javad
authors: J
authors: Behravan
authors: Homa
authors: H
authors: Falsoleiman
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C498143:RELA protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D010431:Pentoxifylline