PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Luis Gómez-Cambronero
AU  - Bruno Camps
AU  - José García de la Asunción
AU  - Miguel Cerdá
AU  - Antonio Pellín
AU  - Federico V. Pallardó
AU  - Julio Calvete
AU  - Jacob H. Sweiry
AU  - Giovanni E. Mann
AU  - José Viña
AU  - Juan Sastre
TI  - Pentoxifylline Ameliorates Cerulein-Induced Pancreatitis in Rats: Role of Glutathione and Nitric Oxide
DP  - 2000 May 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 670--676
VI  - 293
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/293/2/670.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/293/2/670.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2000 May 01; 293
AB  - 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-α 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. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics