Evaluation of Cytotoxic Effects of Bevacizumab on Human Corneal Cells

Abstract

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. 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. 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). Bevacizumab was nontoxic to human corneal epithelial and fibroblast cells at 3 different concentrations.