Alkylphosphocholines as a potential pharmacologic prophylaxis for posterior capsule opacification

To evaluate the effect of alkylphosphocholines (APCs) on human lens epithelial cell (LEC) proliferation, attachment, and migration in a well-established in vitro model.

Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

The immortalized human LEC line HLE-B3 was incubated for 24 hours with APC in different concentrations in the presence of Eagle's modified essential medium supplemented with fetal calf serum under standard cell-culture conditions. The trypan blue exclusion test and live-dead assay were performed to exclude toxic concentrations. To determine cell proliferation, cells were incubated with APCs at the maximum slope of the growth curve for 24 hours before the tetrazolium dye-reduction assay (MTT test) was performed. After cells were seeded on coated 24-well plates, incubated with APCs, and rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline, cell attachment was assessed by the MTT test. Migration was determined by a modified Boyden chamber method after incubation of LECs with APCs.

Alkylphosphocholines were effective inhibitors of human LEC proliferation, attachment, and migration at nontoxic concentrations in vitro. The 50% inhibitory concentration was close to 0.1 mM. An APC concentration of 1.0 mM accounted for the following: inhibition of cell proliferation of more than 80%, reduction in cell attachment to 66.5%, and inhibition of cell migration of more than 90%. All effects were dose dependent. No toxic effects were detected compared with controls.

Alkylphosphocholines might have the potential for topical application as a single-dose agent to prevent posterior capsule opacification formation. However, further studies are needed before a clinical application can be considered.