Alkylphosphocholines inhibit human RPE cell adhesion and migration

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine the effect of alkylphosphocholines (APCs) on human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell adhesion and migration in vitro. Methods: Cultured RPE cells of five human donors were treated with four different APCs in the presence of fetal calf serum at non–toxic concentrations as determined previously by a trypan blue exclusion assay. Adhesion on collagen and fibronectin coated 24–well dishes was assessed by inverse centrifugation of the culture dishes followed by a tetrazolium dye–reduction assay (MTT) at 550 nm. Migration was assessed by a modification of the Boyden chamber method with PEDF in the lower part of the chamber. Migrated RPE cells were stained with hematoxylin–eosin, viewed under a phase–contract microscope and counted. Results: All four APCs were able to inhibit RPE cell adhesion below 40% on collagen and below 35% on fibronectin at 1500 rpm. RPE migration was reduced by more than 80% for all APCs applied. Trypan blue staining revealed a toxicity below 5 % within the concentration interval tested. Conclusions: All APCs inhibited RPE cell adhesion and migration at non–toxic concentrations in vitro. This might be a novel approach for prevention of RPE–mediated proliferative processes such as PVR.

Keywords: proliferative vitreoretinopathy • retinal pigment epithelium • pharmacology