Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether commercially available new multipurpose contact lens care solutions (MPSs) have any cytotoxicity effect on human corneal epithelial cells. MPSs effect on membrane-associated mucins (Muc1 & 16) expressions in the Rat cornea was also assessed. Membrane-associated mucins are one of the major components of the ocular surface that play a vital role in the maintenance of the ocular surface integrity.
Methods:
Human corneal epithelial cells were treated with different concentrations of MPS-F (1ppm PHMB, no boric acid), MPS-G (1.3ppm PHMB, 1ppm PQ-1, boric acid), MPS-H (1.6 ppm, Alexidine, 3ppm PQ-1, boric acid), MPS-I (1ppm PHMB, boric acid), and MPS-J (5ppm ALDOX, 10ppm PQ-1, boric acid): 100% treatment for 30 minutes and 10% treatment for 24 hours. Cell death was measured by using a viability/cytotoxicity assay kit. Winstar Rats were also subjected to MPSs (1 drop in the right eye every 10 minutes for 1 hour). The left Eye was used as control (1 drop of PBS every 10 min for 1 hour). Cornea lysates were subsequently prepared and used for western blot analysis.
Results:
The viability/cytotoxicity assay result showed that MPSs containing boric acid induce apoptosis in HCE-T cells. The western blot result showed that boric acid-based MPS down-regulate membrane-associated mucins in the cornea while MPSs without boric acid had no effect on membrane-associated mucins.
Conclusions:
The concentration of boric acid used in commercially available multipurpose contact lens care solutions should be chosen carefully to avoid MPS-related ocular surface damage. Ocular surface damage simultaneously promotes microbial pathogens and potentially increases.
Keywords: 482 cornea: epithelium •
449 cell survival •
477 contact lens