Pentoxifylline pretreatment enhances the oxidative burst activity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The effect of pentoxifylline pretreatment on the lucigenin-augmented chemiluminescence and dismutase-inhibitable superoxide production of human neutrophils and mononuclear cells (MNCs) was studied. Pentoxifylline at 20-2,000 micrograms/ml enhanced the lucigenin-augmented chemiluminescence (118-165% of the control, P < 0.01) of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated MNC. Pentoxifylline at 20-2,000 micrograms/ml increased the MNC superoxide production, i.e., 142-171% of the control (P < 0.05) using PMA stimulation and 145-159% of the control (P < 0.01) using opsonized zymosan stimulation. In contrast, pentoxifylline (up to 2,000 micrograms/ml) did not influence the lucigenin-augmented chemiluminescence and superoxide production of human neutrophils, stimulated by either PMA or opsonized zymosan. These results suggest that pentoxifylline is an immunomodulator and may have potential usefulness in the enhancement of immune defenses in compromised hosts.