title: Vitamin E inhibits retinal pigment epithelium cell proliferation in vitro.
abstract: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells migrating through the damaged retina play an important role in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). We found that alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) inhibits proliferation of human RPE in culture without exerting cytotoxic effects. Maximal inhibition was achieved with 100 microM alpha-tocopherol. Our result could explain the observation that vitamin E supplements have an adverse effect on light-damaged retina and on the course of retinitis pigmentosa. Since it has been shown that supplemental oral administrations of vitamin E can raise the RPE concentration of alpha-tocopherol well above 100 microM and supplementation is not associated with any clinical relevant adverse effect, we believe that vitamin E could be beneficial in the treatment of PVR.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mojon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boscoboinik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohnke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E