Pentoxifylline attenuates the development of hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain

Pentoxifylline, a non-specific cytokine inhibitor, has shown to be beneficial in inflammatory pain in both experimental and clinical studies. The present study demonstrates for the first time, to our knowledge, the antihyperalgesic effect of pentoxifylline in the neuropathic pain using L5 spinal nerve transection rat model. In a preventive paradigm, pentoxifylline (12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was administered systemically daily, beginning 1 h prior to nerve transection. Pentoxifylline (50, or 100 mg/kg i.p.) produced significant decrease in the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. However, pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg i.p.) did not influence the paw pressure thresholds and paw withdrawal latency in sham-operated rats. In order to understand the possible antinocicieptive effect of pentoxifylline in neuropathic pain, we examined the level of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 protein in the contralateral brain on day 7 post-transection. Pentoxifylline administration resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of the production of proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6, and enhancement of IL-10. Furthermore, we investigated the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the contralateral brain on days 7 after surgery. In accordance with the change of proinflammatory cytokines, Pentoxifylline (50 or 100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB in the brain. This research supports a growing body of literature emphasizing the importance of neuroinflammation and neuroimmune activation in the development of neuropathic pain states, and the potential preventive value of pentoxifylline in the treatment of neuropathic pain.