title: Effects of local administration of interferon-beta on proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium in rabbit after laser photocoagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether local administration of interferon (IFN)-beta promotes proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following local injection of IFN-beta into the sub-Tenon space of rabbit eyes, the penetration of IFN-beta into various intraocular areas was determined by means of enzyme-linked immuno-adsorbent assay. Retinal lesions were produced by laser photocoagulation (PC), and IFN-beta (1 x 10(6) IU, 1 x 10(5) IU, or 1 x 10(4) IU) was administered into the sub-Tenon space. Physiological saline was substituted for IFN-beta in controls. The proliferation of RPE cells was inspected histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After IFN-beta administration, IFN-beta was found in all intraocular areas examined, with the highest concentration detected in the choroid. After PC, profuse proliferation of RPE cells began earlier in the rabbits that received the highest dose of IFN-beta than in the control rabbits; repair of the central part of the coagulated lesion in those rabbits was complete within 7 days after PC. In control rabbits, the histopathologic wound repair process proceeded more slowly and to a limited extent. Proliferation of RPE cells in the low and medium dose IFN-beta-treated rabbits was similar to that in the control rabbits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that repair of the PC-induced retinal lesions, particularly the proliferation of RPE cells, is promoted in vivo by local administration of IFN-beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tobe
authors.forename: Kyouhei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uyama
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016899:Interferon-beta