STUDY OF PENTOXIFYLLINE INDUCED MODULATION OF TNF-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-6 SECRETION IN HEALTHY AND SEPTIC PATIENTS BY THE USE OF AN EX-VIVOMODEL ON WHOLE-BLOOD

The aim of this work is to reinvestigate the pentoxifylline (PTX) acti on on TNFalpha and IL-6 production using a whole blood ex-vivo model. 5 healthy controls, 2 septic patients (4 samples) and 3 patients in se ptic shock (7 samples) have been studied. Our data confirm the inhibit ory action of PTX on TNFalpha production in healthy controls. This inh ibition is nearly complete for a PTX concentration of 10(-3) M. More s urprisingly a suppressive activity of PTX on IL-6 secretion has been f ound both in controls and septic patients. On the 7 samples of the 3 p atients with septic shock no TNFalpha production has been detected. Ta ken altogether, these observations suggest a potential role for PTX as a modulator of the major cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of se ptic shock.