Abstract
Purpose:
The anti-IgE antibody omalizumab is used for the treatment of severe allergic reactions and might be also applied topically for the prevention of allergic reactions in the eye. Thus, the short as well as long-term toxicity of omalizumab formulated as Xolair® or in pure form on human conjunctival epithelial cells was tested.
Methods:
Chang cells were treated with increasing doses ranging between 125 μg/ml and 125 mg/ml of Xolair® or purified omalizumab from 125 μg/ml to 40mg/ml for 20 minutes or seven days. Cell death was measured using ethidium bromide exclusion while cell survival was assessed using calcein AM staining.
Results:
Neither treatment with omalizumab from 125 μg/ml to 125 mg/ml formulated as Xolair® or treatment with purified omalizumab from 125 μg/ml to 40mg/ml proved harmful to human conjunctival epithelial cells. No morphological cell alterations were observed in any concentrations.
Conclusions:
Our data did not reveal an acute or long-term toxicity to conjunctival epithelial cells. Thus, for severe allergic reactions in the eye or in case of side effects towards established anti-allergic eye medication, omalizumab in the formulation of Xolair® or in form of eye drops might offer additional treatment options employing alternative mechanisms of action.
Keywords: 474 conjunctiva •
503 drug toxicity/drug effects