Evaluation of cytotoxic effects of bevacizumab on human corneal cells.
OBJECTIVE
Corneal neovascularization contributes to corneal opacification in inflammatory conditions of the cornea and severely compromises the success of corneal transplantation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in stimulating and maintaining corneal neovascularization. Anti-VEGF therapy, especially the use of anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab, has gained popularity in the management of retinal neovascularization and is being used topically for corneal neovascularization. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety profile of bevacizumab on human corneal cell lines.


METHODS
Human corneal epithelial and fibroblast cell lines and an umbilical vascular endothelial cell line were treated with increasing doses of bevacizumab. The effect of this treatment on cell viability was assessed by WST-1 and crystal violet staining assays. Cytotoxicity was also assessed by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometric evaluation of propidium iodide-stained cells.


RESULTS
In the cytotoxicity experiments, there was no difference in cell numbers after 24-hour exposure compared with control in any of the cell lines at the concentrations tested (P > 0.05 to 0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
Bevacizumab was nontoxic to human corneal epithelial and fibroblast cells at 3 different concentrations.
Chalam
Kakarla V
KV
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. kchalam@jax.ufl.edu
Shalam
Kakarla V
KV
Agarwal
Swati
S
Brar
Vikram S
VS
Murthy
Ravi K
RK
Sharma
Rajesh K
RK
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000633:toxicity*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab