Thalidomide and prednisolone inhibit growth factor-induced human retinal pigment epithelium cell proliferation in vitro

Thalidomide and prednisolone were recently introduced as treatment modaliti es in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Growth factor-induced activat ion of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a crucial event in this di sease. The purpose was to examine the effect of thalidomide and prednisolon e on growth factor-preactivated RPE cells. Human RPE cells were stimulated with 10 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growt h factor (bFGF), or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for 24 h, Aft erwards, thalidomide (50 mug/ml) or prednisolone (100 ng/ml) were added for 24 h. RPE cell proliferation was determined by [H-3]-thymidine incorporati on. PDGF and bFGF significantly stimulated human RPE cell proliferation (p < 0.005), the value for VEGF stimulation was not significant (p = 0.3). The effect of the growth factors was diminished after addition of thalidomide and prednisolone (p < 0.005), The current study shows that the inhibitory p roperties of thalidomide and prednisolone remain even after growth factor a ctivation of the cells. Copyright (C) 2001 S.KargerAG, Basel.