PENTOXIFYLLINE DECREASES BRAIN LEVELS OF PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR IN MURINE AIDS

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficie ncy virus (HIV)-associated encephalopathy. The effects of pentoxifylli ne on brain PAF levels were examined in mice infected with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV). Seven weeks after viral inoculation, sig nificant increases in serum TNF-alpha and brain PAF levels were observ ed, One week of treatment with pentoxifylline initiated 6 weeks postin fection significantly reduced both serum TNF-alpha and brain PAF level s. A significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of these substances (r = 0.62; P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that pentoxifylline treatment was effective in decreasing the levels of TN F-alpha in the serum and PAF levels in the brain of mice infected with the LP-BM5 MuLV.