The Effect of Doxycycline on the Migration of Pterygial Epithelial Cells grown in Culture

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine if doxycycline, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI), inhibits the migration of cultured pterygial epithelial cells. Methods: The migration of third–passage pterygial epithelial cells grown in culture was measured with and without doxycycline of different concentrations using the quantitative fibronectin cell migration Boyden Chamber assay. The control cells were grown under the same conditions as the treated cells (serum–free Dulbecco's medium containing 5% bovine serum albumin) except without doxycycline. The extent of migration was measured colorimetrically, and the data were analyzed using the student's t–test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Doxycycline (500 µg/ml) significantly decreased migration when compared to control (P < 0.0002). Doxycycline at the lower concentrations (50 µg/ml and 5 µg/ml) showed a trend toward decreasing migration. There was no significant difference between control sets. Conclusions: Doxycycline significantly decreased pterygial cell migration when compared to the control when used at the 500 µg/ml concentration. This may eventually be beneficial to humans in reducing the angiogenesis and growth of pterygia, and may therefore prove to be vision–saving.

Keywords: Pterygium • pharmacology • extracellular matrix