Research Article Details

Article ID: A21231
PMID: 25468788
Source: Med Hypotheses
Title: Pentoxifylline in the management of metabolic syndrome and chronic hepatitis C.
Abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are prevalent diseases with many serious and fatal outcomes. Many of these outcomes are attributed to increased level of TNF-α which causes insulin resistance (IR), liver damage, increased incidence and mortality of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), liver fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). So, an approach that depends on reducing the TNF-α levels is considered a reasonable method to help treat these conditions. Putting together the available data in the previous literature about pentoxifylline (PTX) would highly suggest that this drug is perfect for managing these conditions. Through its inhibitory effect on the production of TNF-α, it would improve the IR state and improve MS. It would also improve the liver condition in NASH which is associated with IR. And by its effect on enhancing the blood flow and decreasing its viscosity, it could also have a protective role against the cardiovascular incidents that develop with IR and MS. In CHC, it would decrease the IR that is associated with HCV infection and this would subsequently increase the response to the antiviral therapy and reduce the liver damage. It was also proven to decrease the incidence and mortality of HRS that develops in cirrhosis. PTX also has anti-fibrotic effects which can stop the liver fibrosis. The PTX effect should be evaluated experimentally and by clinical trials on patients as it can be a breakthrough in the management of MS and CHC. Such an affordable drug would remarkably decrease the expense of the management of these conditions, and would reduce the morbidity and mortality in those patients, which would indirectly increase the productivity in the societies that have a high prevalence of these diseases.
DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.10.020

Strategy ID Therapy Strategy Synonyms Therapy Targets Therapy Drugs
S01 Improve insulin resistance insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide Details
S03 Anti-fibrosis fibrosis Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name
T08 Tumor necrosis factor TNF inhibitor Cytokine P01375 TNFA_HUMAN Details

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I05 9352 Type 2 diabetes mellitus A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus Details

Drug ID Drug Name Type DrugBank ID Targets Category Latest Progress
D328 Serine Chemical drug DB00133 SRR Improve insulin resistance Under clinical trials Details
D266 Pentoxifylline Chemical drug DB00806 ADORA2A antagonist; ADORA1 antagonist; PDE4A inhibitor; PDE3B inhibitor; PDE4B inhibitor; PDE5A inhibitor; PDE8A inhibitor; PDE4C inhibitor; PDE11A inhibitor; PDE7A inhibitor; PDE7B inhibitor; PDE4D inhibitor; PDE3A inhibitor Anti-inflammatory; Cardiovascular drug Under clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details