Effect of pentoxifylline on neutrophil behaviour: stimulation of movement without adhesion changes

The movement of rabbit and human polymorphonuclear leucocyte neutrophils, both over a 2-D substratum and through a 3-D deformable matrix, has been analysed by time-lapse filming and visual migration assays, and the effect of the drug pentoxifylline on their movement has been investigated. This drug may affect cell deformability. At low doses of pentoxifylline, the speed of movement of the neutrophil leucocytes is enhanced, both in 3-D matrices and on a 2-D substratum. In addition, adhesion assays were performed on neutrophils from both species; the drug does not affect adhesion, ruling out an enhancement of movement through adhesion modulation. The implications of these findings for the penetration of connective tissues are discussed.