Pentoxifylline increases survival in murine endotoxin shock and decreases formation of tumor necrosis factor.

Pentoxifylline (POF) was found to possess high protecting potential in murine endotoxin shock. POF was tested in endotoxic shock in normal, LPS-tolerant, LPS-hyperreactive, and D-galactosamine-sensitized mice. A dose of 50 mg/kg increased survival in normal and tolerant mice from 50% in LPS-controls to 90%, and in LPS-hypersensitized and D-galactosamine-sensitized mice from 20% in LPS-controls to 90%. POF did not interfere with the development of endotoxin tolerance. The protective effects of POF were dose-dependent and were observed, even when POF was given up to 4 h post endotoxin. POF was found to inhibit the appearance of TNF in serum of LPS-treated, D-galactosamine-sensitized mice and in the supernatants of LPS-stimulated, thioglycollate-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages.