In vitro immunomodulatory effects of pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is known to influence production and/or function of some cytokines. We examined the effect of PTX on the in vitro expression of cytokine genes using endotoxin- or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human blood mononuclear cells. The expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, TNF beta interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)gamma was inhibited by PTX in a dose-dependent manner, whereas expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 was unaffected at concentrations up to 300 microM of PTX. The amount of TNF beta mRNA in PHA-stimulated blood mononuclear cells was reduced by PTX. Finally, PTX stimulated PHA-induced cell proliferation whereas antigen-induced cell proliferation was inhibited in the presence of PTX. The PTX analogues HWA-138 and A-802715 inhibited TNF alpha mRNA expression from endotoxin-stimulated mononuclear cells. These data suggest that PTX-analogues affect the in vitro immune response at different target points and that the response depends upon the respective triggering mechanism(s).