Translocation of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract: protection afforded by lisofylline.

I MPAIRED MUCOSAL barrier function with resultant bacterial translocation (BT) are closely associated with infectious complications found in the intensive care unit and in transplanted patients. Lisofyllille [( R)-l-( 5-hydroxyhexyl)-3.7-dimethylxanthine 1 (LSF) selectively inhibits generation of phosphatidic acid. I which is a common second messenger to several pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-I. tumor necrosis factor and LPS2 that are involved in the pathogenesis of BT and are mediators of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome.:' The goal of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of LSF in a well-established model of BT.