[Anti-allergic drugs inhibit the proliferation of bovine lens epithelial cells in culture].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the inhibitory effects of tranilast, ketotifen fumarate, and disodium cromoglycate which are used clinically as anti-allergic agents, on the growth of bovine lens epithelial cells (LE) in culture.


METHODS
LE was grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM) with 10% fetal calf serum and growth was measured with 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) and 5-bromo-2'deoxy-uridine(BrdU). Production of collagen, transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-beta 1), and basic-fibroblast growth factor(b-FGF) were measured with corresponding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Apoptotic cell death was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling method(TUNEL technique) and the DNA ladder method.


RESULTS
Both ketotifen and tranilast inhibited the growth of LE, and half-inhibitory concentrations were 200 microM and 1,000 microM, respectively. Disodium cromoglycate did not inhibit LE proliferation significantly. Ketotifen and tranilast decreased the synthesis of collagen but had no obvious effect on TGF-beta 1 and b-FGF production. Apoptotic cell death was detected in LE treated with ketotifen or tranilast.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketotifen and tranilast may be clinically useful for the prevention of aftercataract. Apoptotic cell death may be involved in the process.
Suzuki
H
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine.
Iwaki
M
M
Imagawa
M
M
Takeuchi
M
M
D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002386:Cataract / Q000517:prevention & control; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; C012293:tranilast; D007665:Ketotifen