Vol. 293, Issue 2, 670-676, May 2000

Pentoxifylline Ameliorates Cerulein-Induced Pancreatitis in Rats: Role of Glutathione and Nitric Oxide¹

Luis Gómez-Cambronero, Bruno Camps, José García de la Asunción, Miguel Cerdá, Antonio Pellín, Federico V. Pallardó, Julio Calvete, Jacob H. Sweiry, Giovanni E. Mann, José Viña and Juan Sastre

Departamento de Fisiología (L.G.-C., J.G.D., F.V.P., J.V., J.S.), Departamento de Cirugía (B.C., J.C.), and Departamento de Patología (M.C., A.P.), Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; and Division of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (J.H.S., G.E.M.)

Reactive oxygen radicals, nitric oxide, and cytokines have been implicated in the initiation of pancreatic tissue damage and impairment of the pancreatic microcirculation in acute pancreatitis. Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative with rheologic and marked anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines. We have examined whether pentoxifylline ameliorates interstitial edema, inflammatory infiltrate, and glutathione depletion associated with cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Cotreatment of animals with pentoxifylline significantly reduced cerulein-induced pancreatic inflammation and edema and attenuated the depletion of pancreatic glutathione and the increase in serum lipase activity, nitrate, and tumor necrosis factor- levels. Pentoxifylline also prevented both mitochondrial swelling and damage to mitochondrial cristae caused by cerulein. Our findings provide an experimental basis for using pentoxifylline to attenuate inflammatory responses within the pancreas in acute pancreatitis and as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.