Indocyanine green induces apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether indocyanine green (ICG) dye induces apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.


METHODS
Laboratory investigation.


METHODS
Pure cultures of human RPE cells were isolated. Retinal pigment epithelial cells were incubated with different concentrations of ICG dye (1 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, or 20 mg/ml) for 30 minutes. The rate of RPE cell apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V-FITC staining and propidium iodide (PI) by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Retinal pigment epithelial cells maintained their monolayer morphology after incubation with ICG dye. However, ICG induced a statistically significant amount of apoptosis in RPE cells at all the concentrations (1 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, and 20 mg/ml) after 30 minutes of incubation (P <.05). The solvent solution alone (without the ICG dye) did not induce any significant apoptosis in RPE cells, when compared with culture medium.


CONCLUSIONS
The incubation of RPE cells with ICG dye increased the number of apoptotic RPE cells in vitro. Our findings indicate that the decision over the intravitreal application of ICG dye needs to be made with caution.
Rezai
Kourous A
KA
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC-2114, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. karezaei@yahoo.com
Farrokh-Siar
Lili
L
Ernest
J Terry
JT
van Seventer
Gijs A
GA
D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000633:toxicity*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011419:Propidium / Q000378:metabolism
D017304:Annexin A5; D004396:Coloring Agents; D011419:Propidium; D007208:Indocyanine Green