Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: : To compare the relative toxicities of four commonly used topical ophthalmic antibiotics (moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and ofloxacin), on human corneal epithelial cells. Methods: : A total of 160 tissue wells containing 10.014 pRSV–T human corneal epithelial cells (2000–3000 cells/well) were divided into 10 separate groups. Each group was exposed to 100 microliters of undiluted antibiotics or SystaneTM (polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol) and evaluated afterincubation for either 5 minutes or 15 minutes. Live/dead reagents (Molecular Probe) were used to quantify the effects of each drug on culture cells compared to cells grown in normal media. Relative levels of live/dead cells were then evaluated using a Biotek FL600 Microplate Fluorescence Reader. Results: The least amount of epithelial cell death was associated with the untreated tissue cultures (control) and with the tissue cultures treated with SystaneTM. All ophthalmic antibiotics tested showed some epithelial cell toxicity. Among the 4 antibiotics tested, moxifloxacin showed the least toxicity on human corneal epithelial cells. Gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin as a group were similar in epithelial cell toxicity and showed a greater percentage of cell death than moxifloxacin. The mean percentage of cell death at 5 minutes was as follows: tissue culture media (control): 70.9±6.3 (mean±s.d.), SystaneTM: 70.2±4.0, moxifloxacin: 83.6±6.4, levofloxacin: 89.5±7.6, gatifloxacin: 88.2±7.8, and ofloxacin: 90.9.±6.7. The mean percentage of cell death at 15 minutes was as follows: tissue culture media (control): 70.9 ±6.3, SystaneTM: 70.7±6.9, moxifloxacin: 82.3 ±6.1, levofloxacin: 88.9±5.5, gatifloxacin: 91.2±6.6, and ofloxacin: 89.6±6.3. These results were analyzed via Tukey multiple comparison and found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: Of the four topical ophthalmic antibiotics tested, all of the antibiotics showed evidence of epithelial cell toxicity (moxifloxacin < levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and ofloxacin). There may be important ramifications on wound healing in LASEK, PRK, corneal ulcers and persistent epithelial defects.
Keywords: antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • cornea: epithelium