Search

Long-term effect of suramin on the inhibition of proliferation of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells

ObjectiveTo observe the longterm effect of suramin on the inhibition of proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro. MethodsRPE cells grown in 9 pieces of 96well plate (12 wells each plate) were divided into experimental and control group, with 6 wells in each group. The concentration of 0.1 ml RPE cells in each well is 5×104 cells/ml. After the change of the medium, RPE cells were treated with suramin (250 μg/ml) in experimental group while treated with nothing in the control group. The medium of the 2 groups were changed to the normal medium after 4 days. At the 1st, 2nd, and 4thday after the addition of suramin and at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th , 11th and 13th day after removing suramin, 1 plate was randomly selected to stop culturing, and the proliferation of RPE cells were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. ResultsUnder reversed microscope, RPE cells in control group were fused completely at the 7th day after inoculation. The extracellular space of RPE cells in experimental groups was larger than that in the control group, and remained unfused at the 13th day after inoculation. The inhibitory rate of proliferation of RPE cells at the first day after treated with suramin was 14.85% and increased to the highest 25.79% at the 4th day. The first day after the suramincontaining media was removed, the inhibitory rate decreased to 12.35%, and then raised gradually to over 20% at the 3rd to 5th day. Finally, the rate drop to 14.71%. ConclusionSuramin has the long-term effect on the inhibition of RPE cells induced by serum, especially the inhibitive effect after the remove of suramin, which indicates the specific double-peak inhibition during the whole process.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:25-27)