The effect of brimonidine on transepithelial resistance in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of brimonidine, an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, on barrier function in ARPE-19 cells by measuring transepithelial resistance (TER).


METHODS
ARPE-19 cells were cultured into a confluent monolayer on a microporous filter. Brimonidine was added to the apical medium, and the barrier function of the cells was evaluated by measuring TER. A subset of cells was treated under hypoxic conditions, and the TER changes observed upon administration of brimonidine were compared to those observed in cells in normoxic conditions.


RESULTS
The ARPE cell membrane reached a peak resistance of 29.1+/-7.97 Omegacm(2) after four weeks of culture. The TER of the cells treated under normoxic conditions increased with brimonidine treatment; however, the TER of the cells treated under hypoxic conditions did not change following the administration of brimonidine.


CONCLUSIONS
Barrier function in ARPE-19 cells increased with brimonidine treatment. Understanding the exact mechanism of this barrier function change requires further investigation.
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Hyun
JH
Park
Sung Joon
SJ
Kim
Hyeong Gon
HG
Yu
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000187:drug effects*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate