The effect of BMY-20014 and pentoxifylline on the filterability of human neutrophils and red blood cells

Abstract

The effect of BMY-20014 and pentoxifylline on the filtration characteristics of a suspension of washed human neutrophils and red blood cells was determined. A mixture of red cells (10 % hematocrit) and neutrophils (300/µl) was pumped through 3 µ Nuclepore filters at a rate of 1 ml/min and the filtration pressure monitored. Neither compound affected the initial filtration pressure, indicating that they did not affect red cell deformability. In contrast, both drugs significantly reduced the pressure reached after 1 min of filtration, pentoxifylline at 100 µg/ml and BMY-20014 at 0.1 µg/ml, suggesting a deformability-increasing effect on the neutrophils. Because vascular plugging by neutrophils is now considered to be an integral part of the etiology of ischemic tissue damage, such activity should be beneficial in the treatment of ischemic diseases.