Effects of pentoxifylline in adriamycin-induced renal disease in rats.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a mediator of inflammation in human and animal renal disease. Pentoxiphylline (PTX) is an inhibitor of TNF-alpha. In this study we examined the effects of PTX on TNF-alpha, proteinuria, nitrite production, and apoptosis in an experimental model of Adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy in rats. Rats were divided into four groups: untreated Wistar rats (controls), PTX treatment alone, ADR treatment alone to induce nephropathy, and ADR treatment followed by PTX. ADR treatment followed by PTX treatment prevented the increase in serum TNF-alpha levels and proteinuria in rats with ADR-nephropathy ( P<0.05). Urine nitrite levels were significantly increased in the ADR-induced nephropathy group and the increase was prevented in the ADR-induced nephropathy group when they also received PTX. The urine nitrite levels were not different between the PTX-treated group and the untreated control rats. PTX prevented the rise of serum TNF-alpha in ADR nephropathy rats and a decrease in proteinuria, urine nitrite, and apoptosis in the renal tissue. These findings suggest a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of PTX.