title: Ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone inhibit the proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture.
abstract: We investigated the inhibition of proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro by the 4-quinolone, ciprofloxacin, and the steroid, dexamethasone. The concentration of ciprofloxacin that inhibited growth by 50% (IC50) was found to be 14.1 micrograms/mL. Growth was 100% inhibited at 83 micrograms/mL. At 166 micrograms/mL, all the cells became completely detached and appeared dead at the end of seven days. The IC50 for dexamethasone in RPE cells was found to be 141 micrograms/mL. A dexamethasone concentration of 1.3 mg/mL inhibited proliferation 100% after five days. When the two drugs were combined, the inhibitory effect was found to be additive; i.e., the IC50 dose of the two drugs in combination inhibited RPE cell proliferation by 75%. A combination of the two drugs was also tested for retinal toxicity in rabbit eyes. An examination of histological sections and electroretinograms showed that a dose of 100 micrograms of ciprofloxacin, alone or in combination with 200 micrograms of dexamethasone in saline, was not toxic to the rabbit retina. These studies indicate that a combination of ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone has the potential for reducing the risk of PVR formation and aiding in the prevention of endophthalmitis.
authors.affiliation: LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Medicine, New Orleans.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Koutsandrea
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Peyman
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Farahat
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Niesman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D015363:Quinolones; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D003907:Dexamethasone