Diclofenac sodium and cyclosporin A inhibit human lens epithelial cell proliferation in culture.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of diclofenac sodium salt and cyclosporin A (CsA) on human lens epithelial cell (HLEC) growth in culture.


METHODS
Cultures of HLEC were obtained from anterior capsules from extracapsular cataract surgery. Third-passage cells were seeded in 96-well plates in 0.1 ml culture medium. Cytotoxicity was estimated by the tetrazolium test in confluent monolayers after 24 h exposure to a wide range of concentrations of diclofenac and CsA. The effect of subcytotoxic concentrations of diclofenac and CsA on HLEC proliferation in subconfluent cultures was evaluated after 24 and 72 h of exposure. To investigate the relationship between PGE2 synthesis and the inhibitory effect of these drugs, after 24 h of exposure to diclofenac and CsA the production of PGE2 was measured by radioimmunoassay. We also tested the effect of exogenous PGE2 addition to diclofenac 72-h-treated cultures.


RESULTS
Diclofenac and CsA (at concentrations > or = 65 microM and > or = 2.5 microM, respectively) inhibited the proliferation of subconfluent cultures of HLEC in a dose-dependent fashion. Diclofenac inhibits PGE2 synthesis, while CsA at high doses stimulates PGE2 synthesis of cultured HLEC. Exogenous PGE2 addition reversed in part the inhibitory effect of diclofenac.


CONCLUSIONS
Diclofenac and CsA at appropriate doses are effective in inhibiting cultured HLEC proliferation. This could be of interest to prevent posterior capsule opacification. Further in vivo experimental studies seem worthwhile.
Cortina
P
P
Servicio de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Gómez-Lechón
M J
MJ
Navea
A
A
Menezo
J L
JL
Terencio
M C
MC
Diaz-Llopis
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014709:Vero Cells
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004008:Diclofenac; D016572:Cyclosporine; D015232:Dinoprostone