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Octreotide inhibits growth factor-induced bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells in vitro
Christoph W Spraul1, A Baldysiak-Figiel, Gerhard K Lang
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany. christoph.spraul@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Background:
Response to growth factors by the choriocapillaris is one of the main aspects in the development and progression of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of octreotide--an analogue of somatostatin with possible favorable effects in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration--on growth factor-activated bovine choriocapillary endothelial cells (BCEC).
Methods:
Cultivated BCEC were stimulated with 20 ng/ml VEGF, 5 ng/ml bFGF, 50 ng/ml TGFbeta(2), or 50 ng/ml IGF-I for 24 h. Afterwards, the cells were incubated for a further 24 h with octreotide (10(-6) M). BCEC proliferation was determined by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. The experiments were performed in normal conditions and in O(2)-limited (5% O(2)) atmosphere.
Results:
VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-I significantly stimulated BCEC proliferation under normoxic as well as under hypoxic conditions ( P<0.05); the value for TGFbeta(2)stimulation was not significant. Under normoxic conditions, after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells there was no longer any significant [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation compared to the control medium. Under hypoxic conditions similar results were obtained after addition of octreotide to VEGF-, bFGF-, and IGF-I-stimulated cells.
Conclusion:
Octreotide has inhibitory properties after activation of BCEC with growth factors under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Since activation of these cells is a crucial event in the development and progression of AMD, octreotide may be a potential drug for treatment of choroidal neovascularization in these patients.