Effect of a somatostatin analog (octreotide acetate) on the growth of retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture.
OBJECTIVE
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a serious complication of retinal detachment surgery in which retinal pigment epithelial cells abnormally proliferate within the vitreous cavity and under the retinal surface. Octreotide acetate, a somatostatin analog, has been shown to inhibit the cellular proliferation of a variety of cell types. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of octreotide acetate on the growth of rabbit retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture.


METHODS
Retinal pigment epithelial cells were isolated from rabbits and maintained in culture. Cells were exposed to standard media or media supplemented with octreotide acetate 10(-4) M to 10(-12) M for five days. Each concentration of octreotide acetate was tested in quadruplicate.


RESULTS
Exposure of rabbit retinal pigment epithelial cells to octreotide acetate significantly inhibited proliferation with a peak effect at 10(-8) M. The effect of octreotide is biphasic with higher and lower concentrations having less effect than 10(-8) M.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that octreotide acetate may be useful in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy; however, the optimum therapeutic dose range for this drug may be narrow.
Luo
Q
Q
Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112-2234, USA.
Peyman
G A
GA
Conway
M D
MD
Woltering
E A
EA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006728:Hormones; D009418:S100 Proteins; D007633:Keratins; D015282:Octreotide